The Silviniaco Conti Chase is a Grade 2 race run at Kempton Park in January and is run over a distance of two miles, four furlongs and 110 yards.

The race is open to horses aged five years or older and is one of the newest races on the National Hunt calendar, having been contested for the first time in 2016.

The race is slowly building up in terms of stature with its distance lending itself as an ideal trial for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, or even a stepping stone to the Gold Cup. It’s proving to be a very popular market for a sportsbet online.

The Silviniaco Conti Chase was first won in 2016 by Nicky Henderson's former Hennessy Gold Cup hero Triolo D'Alene, while former Ryanair Chase scorer Frodon won the 2020 with some ease.

The roll of honour is sure to go from strength to strength over the coming years.

Paul Nicholls retained the Silviniaco Conti Chase in 2021 as his Master Tommytucker cashed in on an early fall from the string favourite Imperial Aura to dominate the Grade 2 event.

Everything was going swimmingly for the Ditcheat raider until the last fence when the second favourite clattered right into it.

His jockey Harry Cobden thankfully managed to keep the partnership intact and duly claimed the first prize over Clondaw Castle and Riders Onthe Storm.

Silviniaco Conti Chase Winners

• 2016 - Triolo D'Alene 8/1 Jeremiah McGrath/Nicky Henderson
• 2017 - Vaniteux 5/4f Paul Moloney/Nicky Henderson
• 2018 - Waiting Patiently 13/8f Brian Hughes/Malcolm Jefferson
• 2019 - Top Notch 6/4f Daryl Jacob/Nicky Henderson
• 2020 - Frodon 5/4 Bryony Frost/Paul Nicholls
• 2021 - Master Tommytucker 2/1 Harry Cobden/Paul Nicholls

Silviniaco Conti Chase Trends

• Age: 5 of the last 6 winners were aged between 8 and 10.
• Price: 3 of the last 6 favourites have won, 6/6 winners came from the top three in the betting. For those punters who like to have a bet on horse racing favourites, this is a good race for you.
• Last Run: 1 of the last 6 winners won on their last run before the Silviniaco Conti Chase, 4/6 winners ran within the last 49 days. 
• Previous Course Form: 3/6 winners had at least on previous run at Kempton, 3/6 winners had at least one previous win at Kempton.
• Previous Distance Form: 6/6 winners had at least three previous runs over 19-21 furlongs, 6/6 had at least one previous win over 19-21 furlongs.
• Previous Chase Form: 5/6 winners had at least six previous chase runs, 5/6 winners had at least three previous chase wins.
• Rating: 6/6 winners were rated 150 or higher.
• Graded Wins: 5/6 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1-3 race.
• Season Form: 5/6 winners had at least one run that season, 2/6 winners had at least one win that season.

Silviniaco Conti Chase Trainers

The race is only six years young and already Nicky Henderson has won it three times. His winners have been Triolo D'Alene (2016), Vaniteux (2017) and Top Notch (2019).

Ditcheat handler Paul Nicholls is up there with two victories to his name, those being Frodon (2020) and Master Tommytucker (2021).

The only other trainer to make it onto the Silviniaco Conti Chase roll of honour thus far is the late Malcolm Jefferson who saddled Waiting Patiently to win in 2018.

Prolific winning trainers such as Colin Tizzard, Alan King, Philip Hobbs and Nigel Twiston-Davies are yet to figure despite all of them having had runners.

Silviniaco Conti Chase Jockeys

Despite Nicky Henderson taking this race on three occasions there was a different jockey onboard each time, either down to personal choice, retainer rules or injury.

Obviously the main jockeys to look out for now if they ride in this race are Brian Hughes, Sam Twiston-Davies, Bryony Frost, Harry Cobden and Paddy Brennan.

Silviniaco Conti Chase Trial Races

There are no “trial races” as such for this Kempton feature but a lot of runners do come back from the previous season, and many of them have dabbled with the Cheltenham Festival too.

• Next Run: One of the last six winners won on their next run after the Silviniaco Conti Chase, 1/6 placed on their next run, 3/6 winners ran in the Ascot Chase on their next run, 1 of the 3 won, 1 placed.
• Rest of The Season: Four of the last six winners ran in at least two more races that season.
• 2/6 won at least one more race that season, 1/6 placed in at least one more race that season.
• Cheltenham Festival Run That Season: 2/6 winners ran in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, 0 of the 2 won, 0 placed.

Starting Prices

3-4-6-5-5-4 is the total number of runners in this race over the last six years. As you can see there doesn’t tend to be many entries which explains why the winner has come from the first three in the betting on each occasion.

Triolo D’Alene was actually the 8/1 outsider of three when he won which effectively has been the only “shock” in the race. A first and second favourite equilibrium has been maintained ever since.

Be sure to revisit our 888Sport horse racing blog to find our NAP of the day for the Silviniaco Conti Chase nearer the date.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 1st February 2022

The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade One horse race run over two miles at Leopardstown Racecourse in early February.

Eight hurdles have to be negotiated in what is considered one of the most prestigious hurdles races in the National Hunt calendar. 

The Irish Champion Hurdle is a massive contest on its own right but it is also a key final trial for some horses for the Champion Hurdle itself at Cheltenham in March, with many of the Leopardstown competitors likely to ahead across to Prestbury Park to try and pick up some more silverware.

The race is now one of the leading lights during the two-day Dublin Racing Festival which takes place in either late January or early February, and has been won by some of the most legendary equine names in the sport.

Only six of them have completed the Champion Hurdle double in the same season.

Hurricane Fly (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

Unstoppable in the race between 2011 and 2015, no wonder Willie Mullins called Hurricane Fly the 'horse of a generation'.

Istabraq (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Istabraq won the Irish Champion Hurdle four times between 1998 and 2001 and also claimed a hat-trick in the equivalent Cheltenham race.

Who knows what would have happened in 2001 if the foot and mouth outbreak had not led to the cancellation of the Festival.

Collier Bay (1996)

Collier Bay took on the best of Ireland at level weights and emerged a winner by the narrowest of margins under Jamie Osborne.

Just a few weeks later he charged up the famous Cheltenham hill under the charge of Graham Bradley.

Dawn Run (1984)

The mare completed the English, Irish and French Champion Hurdle treble, winning at Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Auteuil in her unstoppable 1984 season.

Winning Fair (1963)

The one-eyed Winning Fair completed the Champion Hurdle double either side of the Irish Sea in 1963.

Hatton's Grace (1950)

Trained by the legendary Vincent O'Brien, Hatton’s Grace was the first horse to win the Irish Champion Hurdle in 1950 and also the first to follow up in the Cheltenham Festival equivalent.

Irish Champion Hurdle Winners

2021 - (4:01.50) Honeysuckle 7yo 11-5 10/11F (Rachael Blackmore/Henry De Bromhead)

2020 - (3:49.30) Honeysuckle 6yo 11-3 8/11F (Rachael Blackmore/Henry De Bromhead)

2019 - (3:44.60) Apples Jade 7yo 11-3 8/11F (Jack Kennedy/Gordon Elliott)

2018 - (4:00.90) Supasundae 8yo 11-10 8/1 Robbie Power/Jessica Harrington)

2017 - (3:41.30) Petit Mouchoir 6yo 11-10 9/10F (David Mullins/Henry De Bromhead)

2016 - (3:54.00) Faugheen 8yo 11-10 30/100F (R Walsh/Willie Mullins)

2015 - (3:57.20) Hurricane Fly 11yo 11-10 11/10F (R Walsh/Willie Mullins)

2014 - (3:53.00) Hurricane Fly 10yo 11-10 4/7F (R Walsh/Willie Mullins)

2013 - (4:05.10) Hurricane Fly 9yo 11-10 1/6F (R Walsh/Willie Mullins)

2012 - (4:05.10) Hurricane Fly 8yo 11-10 4/5F (R Walsh/Willie Mullins)

Irish Champion Hurdle Trends

• Age: 7 of the last 10 winners were aged between 6 and 8.
• Price: 9 of the last 10 favourites/joint favourites have won, 10/10 winners came from the top three in the horse racing betting.
• Last Run: 9 of the last 10 winners won on their last run before the Irish Champion Hurdle, 9/10 winners ran within the last 37 days. 6/10 winners ran in the December Hurdle on their last run, 6 of the 6 won, 0 placed.
• Previous Course Form: 9/10 winners had at least two previous runs at Leopardstown, 10/10 winners had at least one previous win at Leopardstown.
• Previous Distance Form: 10/10 winners had at least six previous runs over 15-17 furlongs, 10/10 had at least three previous wins over 15-17 furlongs.
• Previous Hurdle Form: 10/10 winners had at least nine previous runs over hurdles, 9/10 winners had at least eight previous wins over hurdles.
• Rating: 10/10 winners were rated 158 or higher.
• Graded Wins: 10/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1 race, 10/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1-3 race.
• Season Form: 10/10 winners had at least two runs that season, 10/10 winners had at least one win that season.

Irish Champion Hurdle Trainers

The leading trainer in the Irish Champion Hurdle over the last 20 years is Willie Mullins who has saddled the winner a total of six times.

Those being Hurricane Fly (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) and Faugheen (2016). Other trainers with multiple wins in the Irish Champion Hurdle include Henry De Bromhead (4 wins), Mrs John Harrington (2 wins) and Colm Murphy (2 wins).

To see who the Irish trainer will be saddling for this race in 2022, check out our Henry De Bromhead stable tour.

Irish Champion Hurdle Jockeys

Charlie Swan and Ruby Walsh share the record for the most wins in the Irish Champion Hurdle with six winners apiece.

Out of the current crop of jockeys, Rachael Blackmore has won the contest twice. Those 2 winners were on Honeysuckle (2020, 2021).

Irish Champion Hurdle 'Trial' Races

The Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in mid-November is usually the starting point for horses likely to progress through to the Irish Champion Hurdle.

The December Hurdle is of course a key barometer too.

Starting Price

A study of the last 20 renewals reveals that the biggest priced winner was Hardy Eustace in 2007 for trainer Dessie Hughes at odds of 9/1 with jockey Conor O'Dwyer in the plate.

Horses at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals have fared well with there being a total of 15 winning favourites from the sports betting during that time period.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 1st February 2022

The Cotswold Chase takes place over a trip of 3m1f 156 yards and is held on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Open to chasers aged five years and older, the race requires 21 fences to be jumped in all and is the ideal test for potential Gold Cup candidates each year.

First run in 1980, the race takes its officially registered name from the surrounding geographical area.

It has of course featured the name of various sponsors in its title over the years, with the Tote, Timeform, Bibendum and Betbright all having stumped up the prize money in the past.

Even though the race is touted as being one of the season’s big trials for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the race has only given us March’s winner on four occasions.

Little Owl (1981), Master Oats (1995), See More Business (1998) and Looks Like Trouble (2000) are the esteemed quartet that achieved the famous double.

The roll of honour for the Cotswold Chase is an excellent one in general with a whole host of top horses claiming top honours down the years.

One Man, See More Business, and Neptune Collonges are just a few of the names to have won the race but the favourite for many fans in recent years has be Many Clouds.

The Oliver Sherwood trained horse won the race twice - in 2015 and 2017, and in 2015 he went to Aintree to claim the Grand National.

Cotswold Chase Winners

• 2021* - Native River 13/2 (Richard Johnson/Colin Tizzard)
• 2020 - Santini 13/8 (Nico De Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
• 2019 - Frodon 9/4 (Bryony Frost/Paul Nicholls)
• 2018 - Definitly Red 7/1 (Danny Cook/Brian Ellison)
• 2017 - Many Clouds 8/1 (Leighton Aspell/Oliver Sherwood)
• 2016 - Smad Place 9/2 (Richard Johnson/Alan King)
• 2015 - Many Clouds 4/1 (Leighton Aspell/Oliver Sherwood)
• 2014 - The Giant Bolster 6/1 (Tom Scudamore/David Bridgwater)
• 2013 - Cape Tribulation 7/1 (Denis O'Regan/Malcolm Jefferson)
• 2012 - Midnight Chase 11/2 (Dougie Costello/Niall Mulholland)

*2021 race was run at Sandown*

Cotswold Chase Statistics

• Age: 8 of the last 10 winners were aged 9 or older.
• Price: Just 1 of the last 10 favourites have won, 5/10 winners came from the top three in the horse racing betting.
• Last Run: 6 of the last 10 winners won on their last run before the Cotswold Chase, 9/10 winners ran within the last 56 days.
• Previous Course Form: 10/10 winners had at least two previous runs at Cheltenham, 8/10 winners had at least one previous win at Cheltenham.
• Previous Distance Form: 10/10 winners had at least five previous runs over 24+ furlongs, 10/10 had at least one previous win over 24+ furlongs.
• Previous Chase Form: 10/10 winners had at least eight previous chase runs, 9/10 winners had at least eleven previous chase runs, 10/10 winners had at least two previous chase wins, 10/10 winners had at least three previous chase wins.
• Rating: 9/10 winners were rated 153 or higher.
• Graded Wins: 10/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1-3 race.
• Season Form: 8/10 winners had at least two runs that season, 7/10 winners had at least one win that season.

Cotswold Chase Trainers

Paul Nicholls has won the Cotswold Chase on five occasions. The Ditcheat handler has won the race with See More Business (1998, 2001), Taranis (2010), Neptune Collonges (2011) and Frodon (2019).

It was an amazing forty years between buses for Nicky Henderson’s two wins in this race.

Having won the very first Cotswold Chase in 1980, it took until 2020 until the Seven Barrows maestro added to his tally when Santini lifted the silverware.

Cotswold Chase Jockeys

This Trials Day contest was very kind to the legend that was AP McCoy and Cyfor Malta (1999), Exotic Dancer (2007) and Neptune Collonges (2011) gave the Northern Irishman a hat-trick of victories.

Current jockeys to score in the last ten years include Nick Scholfield, Tom Scudamore, Bryony Frost and Nico De Boinville.

Cotswold Chase 'Trial' Races

The road to the Cheltenham Gold Cup often sees a number of contenders have their final run before the Festival on Trials Day.

The Cotswold Chase tests whether horses are Gold Cup horses or not with a recent example being Frodon in 2019 who went to the Ryanair Chase rather than the Gold Cup.

• Next Run: 1 of the last 10 winners won on their next run after the Cotswold Chase, 2/10 placed on their next run.
• Rest of The Season: 10/10 winners ran in at least one more race that season.
• 2/10 won at least one more race that season, 3/10 placed in at least one more race that season.
• Cheltenham Festival: 9/10 winners ran in the Gold Cup at the next Cheltenham Festival, 0 of the 9 won, 2 placed.

Starting Prices

The Cotswold Chase has been a graveyard for sport bets favourites since the turn of the millennium with only the Nicky Henderson-trained Santini obliging at odds of 13/8 in recent times.

Nothing at too big a price has upset the applecart with Many Clouds at 8/1 being the biggest returned price in the last 10 years.

Effectively it pays as a punter to concentrate on the first three or four runners in the betting for the Cotswold Chase.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 1st February 2022

Held at Newbury racecourse the Denman Chase is a Grade Two race that is run in February each year.

First run in 2000, the Denman Chase tales place over a trip of 3 miles, and over that time has given punters, trainers and owners alike a few clues towards the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Four horses have landed this content before going onto take the blue-riband in the same season – Kauto Star (2007), Denman (2008), Coneygree (2015) & Native River (2018).

Originally named the Aon Chase, the race was given Listed status in 2002 and then went up to a Grade 2 in 2003.

The planned 2009 renewal was abandoned at Newbury because of snow, and so the race was switched to Kempton Park that year and was run as the Levy Board Chase.

In 2012 Betfair became the official sponsor and renamed the Newbury feature the Denman Chase in honour of Denman, who won the race in 2008 and also won two Hennessy Gold Cups at the venue.

The race forms part of an excellent Newbury card which also sees the Betfair Hurdle and the Game Spirit Chase take place at the same fixture. Many tipsters will opt for this meeting to publish their NAP of the day.

The roll of honour for this race is a very impressive one too. Kauto Star won this back in 2007 before going on to win the Gold Cup at Cheltenham the following month for Paul Nicholls.

Given that the race is named after him, Denman has to be remembered as a giant of this race , while similar comments  go for See More Business, Long Run, Coneygree and Native River who all took this and the Gold Cup in the respective careers.

Denman Chase Winners

• 2021 – Secret Investor (14/1) Bryony Frost/Paul Nicholls
• 2020 – Native River (2/5 fav) Jonjo O'Neill Jr/Colin Tizzard
• 2019 - Clan Des Obeaux (2/5 fav) Harry Cobden/Paul Nicholls
• 2018 - Native River (8/11 fav) Richard Johnson/Colin Tizzard
• 2017 – Native River (11/10) Aidan Coleman/Colin Tizzard
• 2016 - Houblon des Obeaux (3/1) Aidan Coleman/Venetia Williams
• 2015 – Coneygree (15/8 fav) Richard Johnson/Mark Bradstock
• 2014 – Harry Topper (7/2) Jason Maguire/Kim Bailey
• 2013 – Silviniaco Conti (8/11 fav) Ruby Walsh/Paul Nicholls
• 2012 – Long Run (4/7 fav) Sam Waley-Cohen/Nicky Henderson

Denman Chase Statistics

• Age: 7 of the last 10 winners were aged either 7 or 8.
• Price: 6 of the last 10 favourites have won, 9/10 winners came from the top three in the horse racing odds.
• Last Run: 5 of the last 10 winners won on their last run before the Denman Chase, 9/10 winners ran within the last 63 days.
• Previous Course Form: 9/10 winners had at least on previous run at Newbury, 7/10 winners had at least one previous win at Newbury.
• Previous Distance Form: 10/10 winners had at least two previous runs over 23-25 furlongs, 10/10 had at least two previous wins over 23-25 furlongs.
• Previous Chase Form: 10/10 winners had at least seven previous chase runs, 9/10 winners had at least four previous chase wins.
• Rating: 9/10 winners were rated 156 or higher.
• Graded Wins: 10/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1 or 2 race.
• Season Form: 9/10 winners had at least two runs that season, 7/10 winners had at least one win that season.

Denman Chase Trainers

One trainer has made this race his own in the last 20 years and that is Paul Nicholls. He has won this race 10 times out of the 20 times it has been run thus far.

His winners have been: See More Business (2000), Shotgun Willy (2001), Valley Henry (2003), Kauto Star (2007), Denman (2008), Tricky Trickster (2010), Noland (2011), Silviniaco Conti (2013), Clan Des Obeaux (2019), Secret Investor (2021).

Colin Tizzard has saddled the winner three times in just the last five years, while Nicky Henderson has recorded top honours twice.

Denman Chase Jockeys

The recently retired Richard Johnson had four successes in the Denman Chase, winning aboard Shooting Light (2004), Farmer Jack (2005), Coneygree (2015), and Native River (2018).

Of the current crop of jockeys, Aidan Coleman has won the race twice while Bryony Frost, Jonjo O’Neill Jr and Harry Cobden all have a single victory apiece.

Denman Chase 'Trial' Races

The King George tends to be the most obvious starting point for potential runners in this race.

Quite often we see Ladbrokes Trophy runners return to the same venue for the Denman Chase with previous course form turning out to be a powerful weapon.

Future runs are of course important too and needed to be studied:

• Next Run: 2 of the last 10 winners won on their next run after the Denman Chase, 2/10 placed on their next run.
• Rest of The Season: 9 of the last 10 winners ran in at least one more race that season.
• 2/10 won at least one more race that season, 4/10 placed in at least one more race that season.

Cheltenham Festival Run Same Season:

7/10 winners ran in the Gold Cup at the next Cheltenham Festival, 2 of the 7 won, 2 placed.

Starting Prices

Favourites have a great record in this race with six of them doing the business in the last 10 years.

In general, the winner tends to come from the first three in the betting market but you do get the odd upset. The most recent surprise win was in 2021 when Secret Investor won at odds of 14/1 in the online betting.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 1st February 2022

First run in 1983, the Cleeve Hurdle is one of the biggest Grade 2 horse races in the UK, taking place every January on the new course at Cheltenham Racecourse on Cheltenham Trials Day.

The race has become one of the leading trials for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with the Cleeve Hurdle being run over a distance of 3 miles and with a total of 12 hurdles to be negotiated.

The race was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 1991, however, it was put back to a Grade 2 in 2004.

The contest usually attracts a hugely competitive field with some of the leading National Hunt trainers expected to trial their prized staying hurdlers ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, seven weeks away.

Some magnificent names have graced the Cleeve Hurdle roll of honour down the years with Lady Rebecca springing to mind courtesy of her three wins in the race, while Inglis Drever, Thistlecrack and Paisley Park all went on to enjoy Festival success.

You could say however that the most iconic winner of the Cleeve Hurdle was Big Buck’s.

The Paul Nicholls trained horse won this race twice during his outstanding racing career which would saw him win the Stayers' Hurdle no less than four times and become an absolute Cheltenham Festival legend.

Cleeve Hurdle Winners

• 2010 – Tidal Bay 14/1 (Brian Hughes/Howard Johnson)
• 2011 – Grands Crus 2/1 fav (Tom Scudamore/David Pipe)
• 2012 – Big Buck’s 1/4 fav (Ruby Walsh/Paul Nicholls)
• 2013 – Reve De Sivola 15/8 fav (Richard Johnson/Nick Williams)
• 2014 – Knockara Beau 66/1 (Jan Faltejsek/George Charlton)
• 2015 - Saphir Du Rheu 3/1 (Sam Twiston-Davies/Paul Nicholls)
• 2016 – Thistlecrack 4/5 fav (Tom Scudamore/Colin Tizzard)
• 2017 - Unowhatimeanharry 10/11 fav (Barry Geraghty/Harry Fry)
• 2018 – Agrapart 9/1 (Lizzie Kelly/Nick Williams)
• 2019 – Paisley Park 100/30 fav (Aidan Coleman/Emma Lavelle)
• 2020 - Paisley Park 4/6 fav (Aidan Coleman/Emma Lavelle)
• 2021 – No Race (waterlogged track)

Cleeve Hurdle Trends

• Age: 7 of the last 10 winners were aged between 6-8.
• Price: 7 of the last 10 winners were favourites, 8/10 winners came from the top three in the horse racing odds market.
• Last Run: 7 of the last 10 winners won on their last run before the Cleeve Hurdle, 10/10 winners ran within the last 57 days. 5/10 winners ran in the Long Walk Hurdle on their last run, 5 of the 5 won.
• Previous Course Form: 10/10 winners had at least one previous run at Cheltenham, 7/10 winners had at least one previous win at Cheltenham.
• Previous Distance Form: 10/10 winners had at least one previous run over 23-25 furlongs, 8/10 had at least one previous win over 23-25 furlongs.
• Previous Hurdle Form: 9/10 winners had at least seven runs over hurdles, 10/10 winners had at least three wins over hurdles, 9/10 winners had at least four wins over hurdles.
• Rating: 9/10 winners were rated 156 or higher.
• Graded Wins: 9/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1-2 race.
• Season Form: 10/10 winners had at least two runs that season, 9/10 winners had at least one win that season.

Cleeve Hurdle Trainers

Two trainers top the Cleeve Hurdle tree with three wins apiece, those being Venetia Williams and Paul Nicholls.

Williams won the race with Lady Rebecca (1999, 2000, 2001) while Nicholls saddled Big Buck's (2009, 2011) and Saphir Du Rheu (2015).

Other successful current trainers include Emma Lavelle, Nick Williams and Alan King who all currently stand on two winners each, while it’s now 22 years since Nigel Twiston-Davies scored in this race.

Cleeve Hurdle Jockeys

Norman Williamson is the most successful jockey in Cleeve Hurdle history with four wins to his name. Williamson won the contest on Mudahim (1995) and Lady Rebecca (1999, 2000, 2001) whilst he was at the top of his riding prowess.

Former champion jockey Brian Hughes last took this race in 2010, while Aidan Coleman has won the last two renewals (2019/20) aboard Paisley Park.

Tom Scudamore and Sam Twiston-Davies have also lifted the trophy in recent years.

Cleeve Hurdle 'Trial' Races

For the staying hurdler division in the UK, the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham is just one stepping stone on the way to the blue riband prize at The Festival.

Online sports betting punters wishing to have a bet on the Cleeve runners should study the outcomes of the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and the JLT Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Horses that perform well in either of those two contests invariably head to Cheltenham for the Cleeve on Trials Day with a view to returning for the Stayers' Hurdle in March.

So how do runners from the Cleeve Hurdle generally do in their subsequent runs? Let’s take a look at the last ten renewals.

• Next Run: 3 of the last 10 winners won on their next run after the Cleeve Hurdle, 5/10 placed on their next run.
• Rest of The Season: 8 of the last 10 winners ran in at least two more races that season.
• 5/10 won at least one more race that season, 6/10 placed in at least one more race that season.
• Cheltenham Festival Run same season: 9/10 winners ran in the Stayers Hurdle at the next Cheltenham Festival, 3 of the 9 won, 3 placed.

Starting Prices

Seven favourites have obliged in the last ten renewals with the starting prices ranging from 1/4 to 100/30.

The biggest upset happened in 2014 when the George Charlton-trained Knockara Beau, who was better known for being a chaser at the time, ripped up the form book and scored victory at 66/1. He never won another race after that.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 1st February 2022

The race was established in 1987 and was originally sponsored by Paddy Power followed by Le Coq Hardi. Deloitte gave their support to the event from 1992 to 2017.

The race continued as the Deloitte and Touche Novice Hurdle until 2003, and was known as the Deloitte Novice Hurdle from 2004 to 2018. Since 2019 the race has been sponsored by the Chanelle Pharmaceuticals.

Winners of the Chanelle Pharma usually go on to compete in either the Supreme Novices' Hurdle or the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Those to have also achieved victory in one of those races include greats such as Danoli, Istabraq, Like-A-Butterfly, Brave Inca, Champagne Fever, Vautour, Samcro and Appreciate It.

The race itself is open to novice hurdlers aged five years or older and is run over two miles at the February Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse.

During the race, the novices have to negotiate nine hurdles in their bid to become the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle champion.

Traditionally the contest is run at a fairly frenetic pace. The top three quickest Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle’s over the last 20 renewals are:

• 2019 - Klassical Dream (3:48.30)
• 2020 - Asterion Forlonge (3:59.10)
• 2021 - Appreciate It (4:06.90)

Aran Concerto set the slowest winning time (5:00.50) in the 2007 renewal.

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle Winners

• 2021 - (4:06.90) Appreciate It 7yo 11-12 1/3F (Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
• 2020 - (3:59.10) Asterion Forlonge 6yo 11-10 4/1 (Danny Mullins/Willie Mullins)
• 2019 - (3:48.30) Klassical Dream 5yo 11-9 9/4F (Ruby Walsh/Willie Mullins)
• 2018 - (4:08.70) Samcro 6yo 11-10 4/6F (Jack Kennedy/Gordon Elliott)
• 2017 - (4:32.80) Bacardys 6yo 11-10 12/1 (Mr P W Mullins/Willie Mullins)
• 2016 - (4:38.70) Bleu Et Rouge 5yo 11-9 11/1 (Barry Geraghty/Willie Mullins)
• 2015 - (4:24.70) Nichols Canyon 5yo 11-9 9/2 (Ruby Walsh/Willie Mullins)
• 2014 - (4:22.50) Vautour 5yo 11-9 7/4 (Ruby Walsh/Willie Mullins)
• 2013 - (4:22.90) Champagne Fever 6yo 11-10 2/1F (Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
• 2012 - (4:27.20) Benefficient 6yo 11-10 50/1 (Bryan Cooper/Tony Martin)

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle Statistics

• Age: 9 of the last 12 winners were aged 5 or 6.
• Price: 4 of the last 10 favourites/joint favourites have won, 8/10 winners came from the top three in the horse racing betting.
• Last Run: 8 of the last 10 winners won on their last run before the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle, 10/10 winners ran within the last 56 days, 3/10 winners ran in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Leopardstown) on their last run, 1 of the 3 won, 0 placed.
• Previous Course Form: 6/10 winners had at least one previous run at Leopardstown, 3/10 winners had at least one previous win at Leopardstown.
• Previous Distance Form: 10/10 winners had at least two previous runs over 16-18 furlongs, 10/10 had at least one previous win over 16-18 furlongs.
• Previous Hurdle Form: 10/10 winners had at least two previous runs over hurdles, 10/10 winners had at least one previous win over hurdles, 6/10 winners had at least two previous wins over hurdles.
• Rating: 8/10 winners were rated 136 or higher.
• Graded Wins: 8/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1-3 race.
• Season Form: 10/10 winners had at least two runs that season, 10/10 winners had at least one win that season.

Leading Trainers

It should come as no surprise to find that the leading trainer in the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle over the last 20 years is Willie Mullins who has won the race 8 times.

The 8 winners are as follows: Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Nichols Canyon (2015), Bleu Et Rouge (2016), Bacardys (2017), Klassical Dream (2019), Asterion Forlonge (2020) and Appreciate It (2021).

To get the lowdown on Mullins’ Chanelle contenders for this season, check out our Willie Mullins Stable Tour.

Noel Meade is the only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins with three of his runners doing the business.

Leading Jockeys

The leading jockey from yesteryear in this race is Paul Carberry with six wins to his name: Bolino Star (1996), Native Estates (1998), Solerina (2003), Mr Nosie (2006), Aran Concerto (2007), Pandorama (2009).

Of the jockeys still riding at present, Paul Townend has won the race twice. Those two winners came from Champagne Fever (2013) and Appreciate It (2021).

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle Trial Races

In recent years the Future Champions Hurdle has provided a few pointers towards this race but there are no real trial races as such leading into this.

Going forward from this race however:

• Next Run: 5 of the last 10 winners won on their next run after the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle, 2/10 placed on their next run.
• Rest of The Season: 9 of the last 10 winners ran in at least two more races that season.
• 7/10 won at least one more race that season, 2/10 placed in at least one more race that season.

Cheltenham Festival Run Same Season:

• 6/10 winners ran in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the next Cheltenham Festival, 4 of the 6 won, 1 placed.
• 4/10 winners ran in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at the next Cheltenham Festival, 1 of the 5 won, 1 placed.

Starting Prices

Looking through the horses that have come from the head of the market over the last 20 years and they have returned 10 winning favourites.

Upsets have been reasonably rare however Benefficient in 2012 sprang one for trainer Tony Martin at a whopping 50/1 – a wonderful price for those who bet on sports.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 1st February 2022

The Dublin Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. Run at Leopardstown over a distance of 2 miles and 1 furlong, there are eleven fences to be jumped in all.

The race is scheduled to take place each year in early February. The race was first run as a Grade 2 race in 2018 as part of the new Dublin Racing Festival and was upgraded to a Grade 1 contest from 2019.

One of the showpiece events of the new Irish Festival, the Dublin Chase now attracts some of the best two-mile horses in training, all bidding to stamp their authority on this racing division.

The contest is often used as a trial for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which is run at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and even though it only came into fruition in 2018 it's already been won by some top class horses.

The result of this event often has a major bearing on the online betting market for the Champion Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained Min won the inaugural running of the event then came back to land it all over again in 2019.

In 2020 Min’s stablemate Chacun Pour Soi was another impressive victor of the race and he too returned the following season to do exactly the same thing - lift the silverware for a second time.

In 2021 Chacun Pour Soi cemented his place at the head of the betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase after winning this Dublin feature.

The complexion of the race changed in the middle of the race when his stablemate Min, the winner in 2018/19, made a sizeable error and was forced to pull up.

This left Chacun Pour Soi clear of his remaining rivals  and he went on to beat the runner-up by eight lengths with the third horse a further seven lengths back.

Dublin Chase Winners

• 2021 - Chacun Pour Soi 2/5f (Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)

• 2020 - Chacun Pour Soi 6/5f (Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)

• 2019 - Min 4/9f (Ruby Walsh/Willie Mullins)

• 2018 - Min 11/8f (David Mullins/Willie Mullins)

Dublin Chase Statistics

• Most successful horse (2 wins): Min – 2018, 2019 & Chacun Pour Soi - 2020, 2021.

• Leading jockey (2 wins): Paul Townend - Chacun Pour Soi (2020, 2021).

• Leading trainer (4 wins): Willie Mullins - Min (2018, 2019), Chacun Pour Soi (2020, 2021).

Dublin Chase Trainers

As you can see from the results, Willie Mullins has dominated this race from the word go, winning it on all four occasions.

The most likely training candidates to break this Mullins monopoly are Gordon Elliott and Henry De Bromhead.

Dublin Chase Jockeys

Willie Mullins’ currently retained jockey Paul Townend gets to ride the cream of the crop for the Closutton Stable and thus far has ridden two Dublin Chase winners.

We dare say it won’t be long before Rachael Blackmore figures on this role of honour.

Dublin Chase Trial Races

There are no real “trial races” so to speak of but horses have tended to run in this and then at the Cheltenham Festival, so it is worth keeping a keen eye on them the following season.

• 2018 - Min ran in the following Queen Mother Champion Chase (finished 2/9)

• 2019 - Min ran in the following Queen Mother Champion Chase (finished 5/9)

• 2020 - Chacun Pour Soi ran in the Hilly Way Chase (Cork) (finished 1/4)

• 2021 - Chacun Pour Soi ran in the following Queen Mother Champion Chase (3/9)

Dublin Chase Starting Prices

Up to press you certainly won’t have got rich backing the winners of the Dublin Chase as all of them have been returned the favourite.

Odds of 11/8, 4/9, 6/5 and 2/5 have been the horse racing odds returned thus far, but in certain quarters some punters would be extremely happy with the odds-against of 11/8 and 6/5.

Dublin Chase Tips

Please check back here nearer the time for our 888Sport NAP of the day for the Dublin Chase.