Tips For The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 2023

This race was formerly known as the RSA Chase and has been used as a stepping stone to Gold Cup glory in subsequent years by the likes of Denman, Bobs Worth and Lord Windermere.

It is run on the old course over a distance of just over three miles. There are twenty fences to be jumped and it usually takes in and around six minutes to complete.

The winning most trainer in the race is Nicky Henderson with four who is closely followed by Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls with three apiece.

Horses that are sired by either Oscar or Presenting have won the race four times between them.

The biggest priced winner of this races over the last decade was Bostons Angel in 2011 who won at 16/1.

The winner is usually well found in the market with each of the last four winners being no bigger than 4/1 in the betting.

With the exception of Don Poli in the last decade, all other winners have been aged seven or eight. Gordon Elliott has never won this race so his horses should be avoided here.

Previous Winners of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

Runners To Watch

Below are selected runners who hold entries for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 2023.

Karl Hedley provides some recent form notes to help point you in the right direction of identifying the winner.

GERRI COLOMBE – GORDON ELLIOTT

Has improved since going chasing and remains undefeated in all starts including his last two in graded races.

The most recent of those wins came at Sandown in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase where he edged out Balco Coastal and Thunder Rock.

Gordon Elliott has never won this race but this seven-year-old looks to be the best he has ever attempted it with. Proven at this level and likely to make his presence felt. A massive chance.

THE REAL WHACKER – PATRICK NEVILLE

Has really taken to chasing for Patrick Neville and is now a two-time course winner including at the trip.

The most recent of those wins came in a Grade Two here when beating Monmiral in the Paddy Power Novices’ Chase on New Years’ Day.

There is definitely more improvement in him and his previous experience around this track will stand him in good stead. In a race that the UK have dominated in recent years, he looks a major player.

SIR GERHARD – WILLIE MULLINS

Has an unblemished Festival record winning the Champion Bumper in 2021 and then he took the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle last year.

He made his chasing debut at Gowran Park just a few weeks ago and it was well worth the wait. Winning by 38 lengths he readily disposed of Largy Debut.

He will improve for that outing but he will need to. He did put in the odd error but that was his first time out on that track. He cannot be dismissed at a track that he loves.

THYME HILL – PHILIP HOBBS

Seems to have found a new lease of life this season winning two out of his three starts. The most recent of those came in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day where he got the better of old rival McFabulous.

Unfortunately for him the 22 horses that previously attempted to follow up here have all failed and his younger and more progressive rivals may have too much up their sleeves.

He is without a win at this track since 2019 also which is off-putting.

RAMILLIES – WILLIE MULLINS

“Won” a race at Naas just a few weeks ago but was demoted to second having deemed to interfere with Thedevilscoachman who would have been an unlucky loser.

There is likely more to come from the Willie Mullins trained eight-year-old, but he will need to improve given the presence of stablemates and festival regulars Gaillard Du Mesnil and Sir Gerhard.

He has been to the Festival twice before himself but finished down the field on both occasions. If he lines up here, it will most likely be a case of Deja vu.

THUNDER ROCK – OLLY MURPHY

If you like the chances of Gerri Colombe, then you must surely Thunder Rock too. He was held up all the way in the Scilly Isles Chase and failed to get going in time to outmanoeuvre the winner.

What he does have on his side this time around is experience of these fences. That could account for a lot and no surprise to see him continue to shorten up in the market.

He is clearly improving and may well have a say in the conclusion of this race.

ADAMANTLY CHOSEN – WILLIE MULLINS

Ran a fairly solid race at a massive price when chasing home Mighty Potter in the Ladbroke Novice Chase.

This will be the furthest that he has ever travelled and given the way he stayed on all the way to the line last time, you would be hopeful that he would improve for the extra distance. The form of that race was franked yesterday by Gaillard De Mesnil and he has place prospects once more.

AMIRITE – HENRY DE BROMHEAD

Was well beaten in a Grade Three at Naas last time and he just gives the impression that this is a few grades higher that what his intended targets should be.

Others appeal more readily and no previous Cheltenham experience will count against him too.

BRONN – WILLIE MULLINS

Was a Grade Two winning hurdler last season when beating Churchstone Warrior at Fairyhouse. Wasn’t beaten all that far by Gerri Colombe in a chase back in November.

The winner has franked the form on multiple occasions since as has Carbon King. Has only had limited attempts at this trip and last time he tried he was beaten twenty lengths. If he has matured, he is not out of this.

I AM MAXIMUS – WILLIE MULLINS

Couldn’t muster much of a challenge when chasing home both Adamantly Chosen and Mighty Potter last time at the Dublin Racing Festival. This extra distance may not suit either and he now has plenty of questions to answer.

GALIA DES LITAUX – DAN SKELTON

Has won listed and Grade Two races so far this season and she gets a lovely seven pound pull at the weights with her male counterparts here.

She is a rapidly improving sort and could easily make the frame. The home contingent have won three of the last four renewals of this race and she could well add to that if there are any flaws in her market rivals.

Ticks The Right Boxes?

2023 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Tips & Key Trends

This looks to be an absolutely fascinating contest with the unbeaten Gerri Colombe locking horns with The Real Whacker and Sir Gerhard.

Gerri Colombe and The Real Whacker have proven themselves in Graded company, but it is hard to escape the previous festival record of Sir Gerhard and the fact that he won so easily last time out.

He looks to be coming to the boil just at the right time and no surprise if he were to take the step up in trip in his stride and make it three festival wins on the bounce.

Key Trends

• All of the last 21 winners had contested a Graded race
• 15 of the last 16 winners had finished first or second in a Grade 1 or Grade 2 novice chase
• 6 of the last 13 winners contested the previous year’s Albert Bartlett Hurdle

Odds With Paddy Power – correct at time of publication

• 5/4 Gerri Colombe
• 9/2 Sir Gerhard
• 11/2 The Real Whacker
• 9/1 Thyme Hill
• 11/1 Galia Des Liteaux
• 16/1 Adamantly Chosen
• 18/1 Thunder Rock
• 20/1 Amirite
• 25/1 Ramillies
• 50/1 Bronn
• 50/1 I Am Maximus