Marsh Novices Chase Tips - 1:30pm Cheltenham

2019 JLT Novices’ Chase Preview

2020 sees a new sponsor making this the Marsh Novices Chase rather than the long standing JLT Novices Chase.

Day three of the Festival opens up with the JLT Novices Chase over 2m4f and we have now switched on to the new course for the first time this week which puts more emphasis on stamina.

The JLT has only been going since 2011 when the meeting went from three to four days and in those 8 years we have had seven Irish trained winners, Taquin Du Seuil in 2014 was the odd one out.

Shattered Love took the prize last year for Gigginstown and Gordon Elliott ending the winning sequence built up by Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh who had won for the three previous years. Obviously runners from any of these yards need close inspection.

The home side look pretty strong this season and a leading contender is the Colin Tizzard runner Lostintranslation. The 7yo was a solid 7^th in the Supreme here last season and then was second to Black Op at Aintree. Chasing was always going to be his game and has definitely improved for seeing a fence.

He has a patchy record with only one victory in four starts but his win here over C/D in the Dipper Chase on New Year’s day was a cracking effort. He came home in front of Defi Du Seuil with Black Op back in third and showed his battling qualities in full.

Next time out he had to settle for second behind the McManus runner in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown, a mistake two out cost him momentum and his old rival got the upper hand close home. It was soft ground that day and it stretched his stamina to the limit.

The key here could be coming back to this track and if he gets decent ground he will take some pegging back.

Defi Du Seuil was winning his second race since going chasing that day at Sandown and it was his best performance by far. Technically he has yet to reach the heights of his hurdling days when he won seven races including the Triumph Hurdle in 2017. He was rated 157 over the smaller obstacles and is currently 6lbs shy of that figure.

He missed most of last season when the Philip Hobbs yard suffered from a virus but has come back with all his old zest. He has been beaten twice here at Cheltenham over fences so we have to take that into account when assessing his chances but he looks a real player nevertheless.

Kim Bailey has some nice novices at the moment and his Vinndication has won six races in seven career starts. His only defeat came at Sandown in the Scilly Isles Chase where he was a close third to Defi Du Seuil. He was always just playing catch up that day and if they had the race over again he may have made more use of his stamina.

He opened his account over fences at Carlisle in a small race and then stepped up by taking a Grade 2 contest at Ascot just before Christmas. He has to go this way round but I’m sure that wouldn’t be an issue.

Kildisart has won his last two races including here over C/D last time out. He beat Highway One O One by two lengths and is clearly going the right way. Daryl Jacob rides for the Munir/Souede partnership.

The Irish team are a bit on the weak side this year and Willie Mullins may look to Real Steel to deliver the goods for him. He failed to stay the three miles in the Albert Bartlett last season but won impressively over 2m5f last time out at Fairyhouse so this race could be perfect for the 6yo.

He was in the process of running a good race at Leopardstown on his chase debut when coming down at the last fence, he jumped much better next time out and is still improving.

The yard also have Voix De Reve who is owned by Graham Wiley, he looked very good when winning his first two chases from Minds Eye and Hardline, two useful yardsticks. He was then put in his place by Le Richebourg at Leopardstown on Boxing Day but ran well again at the Dublin Festival in February. He fell at the last that day when looking held but this step up to 2m4f might just be what the doctor ordered.

The Gordon Elliott team will be keen to defend their crown from last year and have Mengli Khan in the line up. He did win a Grade 1 over hurdles but went down as a 'nearly' horse and the same can be said of his career over fences so far. He needs a personal best to land this but is well regarded by his trainer.

Punters Lounge Tip: Lostintranslation 6/1 at Betfair - Click Here To Bet