Jewson Novices Handicap Hurdle

June 17, 2011
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Cheltenham Festival
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Cheltenham Jewson Novices Handicap

Cheltenham Festival race guide – Jewson Novices Handicap betting

More novice chasing kicks off day three and Sir Des Champs and For Non Stop are both prominent in early ante-post market. The latter readily won the Betfair Novices Chase at Newbury last month and a similar performance would put him bang there for trainer Nick Williams and as for Sir Des Champs, he holds an entry for the Jewson, the RSA Chase and the Arkle.

Jewson Novices Handicap odds

Copper Bleu took the spoils in 2010 for Richard Johnson and Philip Hobbs at a creditable 12/1. And horses at the lower end of the betting have defied their odds at the expense of favourites. Only one favourite has tasted success in this event and that was James Fanshawe’s Reveillez (9/2) almost five years ago, but these novice handicaps do not flatter in serving up some hot-priced winners. So be sure to explore the market thoroughly and looking for those runners who have placed in their previous runs is always a good place to start. That experience can bring novices’ on and with improvement likely it makes a good all round contest.

This race is a bit of a mismatch in the sense that novices’ who are not quite Arkle quality and do not get the extended three mile trip are often entered. But that’s not to say these large field races lack class because many have gone on to become Grand National runners. The £80,000 purse on offer though, is sometimes enough to lure these handicapped horses for an event like this and steer them clear of the National. Many of those who are entered for the Jewson Novices’ will fancy their chances and the market promises to be active before the off. The fact that five different jockeys and trainers have been victorious in the race makes for a very open contest and potentially another new winner will find its way into the record books.

Facts and stats

Seven year-olds have an 80% strike rate in this race and those carrying around ten stone have impressed in this race. The youngest winner of the race was Paul Nicholls’ Chapoturgeon in 2009; he won at the tender age of five but expect this one to go to one of the older more experienced novices. Mature horses that are unexposed after a light National Hunt season should be feared. The late January Cheltenham Festival trials are always good races to take in with potential novices’ entered for the Jewson Handicap appearing. This opener on day three is a very difficult one to predict but if you do get it right your in for a healthy reward with the average wining price around the 9/1 mark.