Marsh Novices’ Chase

ENVOI Allen heads a field of 47 put forward for the Marsh Novices’ Chase, 19 of which are Irish-trained.

The unbeaten seven-year-old is odds-on with the majority of bookmakers to make it a Festival hat-trick having previously recorded wins in the Champion Bumper and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

It’s 10/1 bar the Cheveley Park-owned chaser, and the next in the betting, Energumene is probably a more likely Arkle contender. However, Dan Skelton’s Shan Blue, the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novice Chase winner, is only entered in this contest.

Nicky Henderson’s Allart, set to have his second run over fences in a Grade 2 at Haydock today, is another interesting contender. Owned by Ronnie Bartlett, he won the same Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot as that owner’s Simonsig, and looked impressive in doing so when beating the more experienced Fiddlerontheroof.

Betting: 10/11 Envoi Allen, 12/1 Energumene, 14/1 Shan Blue, Allart

National Hunt Novice Chase

GORDON Elliott has won the National Hunt Novice Chase four times already and has the most entries of any trainer in this year’s renewal, including the favourite Galvin (4/1). There are a host of smaller Irish stables with possible runners which include The Big Dog (Peter Fahey), Born By The Sea (Paul Gilligan) and Notice To Close (Seamus Neville).

Energumene likely for Shishkin clash

Arkle Novices’ Chase

SHISHKIN, Energumene and Allmankind are the standout entries in a list of 34 put forward for the Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase.

Willie Mullins’s six entries in the two-mile Grade 1 is the most of any trainer as he bids to make it four wins in seven years. Energumene, who proved his worth over two miles at Naas, looks to be his best chance.

Mullins could also draw upon the services of Grade 1 scorer Franco De Port, Unexpected and 2019 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Klassical Dream. The other notables among 13 Irish entries are the Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Felix Desjy and Darver Star, who was third in last year’s Champion Hurdle.

All of the above Irish-trained entries bar Klassical Dream could meet in the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival two weeks from today.

Shishkin, last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle victor has looked imperious on both of his starts over fences at Kempton and remains an odds-on shot for the Arkle. He could meet Allmankind, the Henry VIII Novice Chase winner, at Warwick in the Kingmaker Novice Chase in three weeks time.

Betting: 8/11 Shishkin, 6/1 Energumene, 9/1 Allmankind, 16/1 Unexcepted, 20/1 Sky Pirate, Captain Guinness, Hitman

National Hunt Novices’ Chase

THE National Hunt Novices’ Chase has been a good race for Gordon Elliott. The Meath trainer registered his first Festival win in the race in 2011, when the Derek O’Connor-ridden Chicago Grey came from last to first, and he has since registered three more victories – Cause Of Causes (2015), Tiger Roll (2017) and Ravenhill (2020).

Elliott’s seven entries in this year’s renewal is the most of any trainer and among them he has the favourite, Galvin, who had this contest nominated as his sole target all the way back in October when he won at the Showcase meeting at Cheltenham.

The Venetia Williams-trained Royal Pagaille, who runs in the colours of Susannah Ricci, is an interesting inclusion in the entries here, having won impressively in a three-mile handicap chase at Kempton over Christmas, prompting a handicap mark of 156. The seven-year-old also has entries in the Festival Novices’ Chase and Gold Cup.

Nicky Henderson is yet to record a win in this race but looks to have a decent contender this term in the shape of Dickie Diver, a second-season novice chaser who was good enough to finish fourth in last season’s RSA Chase.

There are a host of smaller Irish stables with possible runners which include The Big Dog (Peter Fahey), Born By The Sea (Paul Gilligan) and Notice To Close (Seamus Neville).

As the rules stand in Britain, amateur riders will not be allowed to ride in this race which would change the outlook of this contest significantly, with the scramble for the best amateur riders negated.

Betting: 4/1 Galvin, 10/1 Royal Pagaille, Next Destination, 12/1 Dickie Diver, Latest Exhibition, 16/1 Secret Reprieve, Pencilfulloflead