Willie Mullins has another red-hot Cheltenham Festival favourite in the shape of Monkfish in Wednesday's Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.
The Rich Ricci-owned horse is already a Festival winner having prevailed in a thrilling Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle last year and has won all three of his chase starts this season, most recently a stunning triumph in the Grade 1 Flogas Novices' Chase at last month's Dublin Racing Festival.
So impressive has he been, in fact, that several horses who might otherwise have lined up here have either been aimed at the National Hunt Chase or, in the case of Latest Exhibition, been diverted elsewhere.
Henry De Bromhead's exciting team for the Festival includes Eklat De Rire, unbeaten in two chase starts this season and with both having come over three miles in heavy ground, stamina is clearly of no object.
The Big Breakaway is a horse who has already won at Cheltenham this season, back at the November meeting, and though he has been beaten twice since, including in Grade 1 company at Christmas, trainer Colin Tizzard says he represents the yard's best chance of the week.
Sporting John disappointed in last year's Ballymore but looked to come good when staying on to win the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown last time out over a shorter-trip, closing in a way that suggests the greater stamina test here will suit.
When is the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase?
The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase will be run at 1:55pm on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, the second day of this year's Festival.
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You can view the full Festival schedule here.
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase odds
(Odds provided by Betfair NRNB market and are subject to change, correct as of 12/3/21)
- Monkfish 4/7
- Eklat De Rire 8/1
- Next Destination 8/1
- Royal Pagaille 8/1
- The Big Breakaway 8/1
- Latest Exhibition 12/1
- Sporting John 12/1
- 20/1 bar
How to watch the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
TV channel: The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase will be shown live on ITV1 and Racing TV.
Live stream: TV licence payers can stream the race for free via the ITV Hub website and app. Subscribers can also stream the action via the Racing TV website.
More information on how to watch the Festival can be found here.
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