Our UK horse racing expert Neil Morrice brings you his preview on the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase (Race 2) on Day 2 of the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Read more below. Click here to bet now on this race with Hollywoodbets!
| No | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1 | Count Meribel | 33/1 | Mark Grant | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2 | Delta Work (FR) | 9/5 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 3 | Drovers Lane (IRE) | 16/1 | Sean Bowen | Rebecca Curtis |
| 4 | Mister Malarky | 14/1 | Robbie Power | Colin Tizzard |
| 5 | Mortal (IRE) | 16/1 | Rachael Blackmore | Joseph Patrick O’Brien |
| 6 | Now Mcginty (IRE) | 25/1 | Tom O’Brien | Stuart Edmunds |
| 7 | On the Blind Side (IRE) | 10/1 | Noel Fehily | Nicky Henderson |
| 8 | Santini | 10/3 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 9 | The Worlds End (IRE) | 20/1 | Paddy Brennan | Tom George |
| 10 | Topofthegame (IRE) | 10/3 | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
| 11 | Top Ville Ben (IRE) | 33/1 | Sean Quinlan | Philip Kirby |
| 12 | Drinks Interval | 66/1 | Richard Johnson | Colin Tizzard |
RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase Preview
Race 2 – 14:10
Grade 1 – 3m
Aspiring Gold Cup horses congregate for what promises to be an enduring battle in the easy ground and that should suit TOPOFTHEGAME best.
Paul Nicholls’ charge is an imposing individual, with the make and shape to gallop on when some of his foes have cried enough.
He ran a blinder in a handicap hurdle at the corresponding fixture in 2018 and is unlucky not to have scored over fences this season, as he lost many lengths with a slow start on his reappearance at Exeter.
He then found only La Bague Au Roi too strong at Kempton, and that easy course didn’t play to his strengths. Up the final hill at Cheltenham, he can prove triumphant.
SANTINI also goes into battle off just two starts this season, although Nicky Henderson ideally would have liked to run him in a recent trial for this.
He was unable to do so because of the equine flu outbreak which meant Santini had to be re inoculated- so the gelding embarked in a racecourse gallop to put the finishing touches on his preparation.
However, a foot issue afterwards has complicated things for Nico de Boinville’s mount who had to be re shod over the weekend.
DELTA WORK is the only French runner in the field of 12 and has towered above those in his division at home with three straight wins for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell.
Eight lengths separated him from Mortal at Leopardstown in December and there appears no reason the form will not be confirmed.
ON THE BLIND SIDE is a second string to Henderson’s bow and although not having experienced a clear run through the winter looked promising when scoring at Kempton in January. If he handles the easy conditions he could be a surprise packet.
Neil Morrice’s Predicted Finish
10-8-2-7-9
1: TOPOFTHEGAME (10)
2: Santini (8)
3: Delta Work (2)
4: On The Blind Side (7)
5: The World’s End (9)
