13:30 Cheltenham

Thursday 14 March 2019

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

JLT Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Golden Miller)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 59.53s

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Selected odds by:

Capeland^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144| BF| C| D

28/1

Supplemented for this race at a cost of £7,500; has plenty of experience over fences having kicked-off his season at Newton Abbot in July; handles most conditions (including soft) as shown when winning a Class 2 handicap at Ludlow (2m) in December.

Form: 112122

Defi Du Seuil⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 151| C| D

3/1

Stayed on strongly up the Cheltenham hill when winning 2017 Triumph Hurdle by 5L (& followed up at Aintree); has gradually found his feet over fences this term beating both Lostintranslation and Vinndication in the Scilly Isles at Sandown (soft).

Form: 47-5121

Kildisart⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 147| C

9/1

Just held on chasing debut at Ascot (2m3f, good) but has shown that he's up for a battle by winning twice since, including in a Class 2 handicap at this track in January (beat Highway One O One by 2L); stays well.

Form: 519-211

Lostintranslation⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 150| C

4/1

Finished seventh of 19 in last year's Supreme Novices'; unsuccessfully clashed with the mare La Bague Au Roi over fences earlier in the season before winning the Grade 2 Dipper on New Years Day; closely matched with Defi Du Seuil and Vinndication.

Form: 72-2312

Mengli Khan^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| BF

9/1

Jack of all trades; progressed from the Flat to finish a close third to Summerville Boy in last year's Supreme Novices; made a winning chasing debut at Punchestown (2m) before struggling in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown; steps up in trip.

Form: 233-143

Real Steel²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| BF

13/2

Finished in midfield in last year's Albert Bartlett; in contention when falling at the last on chasing debut at Leopardstown (2m1f), but has bounced back with commanding victories at Fairyhouse (2m5½f) and Thurles (2m2f); faces a sterner test today.

Form: 0P4-F11

Vinndication⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 150| BF| D

11/2

Impressed in schooling last week so will take up this engagement; lost his unbeaten record when struggling to cope with the deep conditions in Sandown's Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (finished third to Defi Du Seuil & Lostintranslation).

Form: 111-113

Voix Du Reve^h⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| D

9/1

Front-runner who impressed when beating Hardline by 7L at Punchestown (2m, good) in November and has twice had the misfortune to clash with Le Richebourg since (ridden when falling at the last at Leopardstown); stayed this trip over hurdles.

Form: 03113F

Castafiore^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 139| D

33/1

Tough mare; has already proved herself as a much improved horse over fences (2-4) by springing a 28/1 shock in Gr.2 company at Haydock (2m4f, good to soft) in January; equally respectable second to Bags Groove since (Kempton); needs more.

Form: 044112

Pravalaguna³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| D

14/1

Pulled up in the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle at the 2018 Festival (50/1); disappointing on chasing debut in May (came at the end of a long season); far better this term, unbeaten in both starts over fences at Limerick (2m3½f) and Naas (2m); tough task.

Form: P41-411

Forecasts

Defi Du Seuil (3/1), Lostintranslation (4/1), Vinndication (11/2), Real Steel (13/2), Mengli Khan (9/1), Kildisart (9/1), Voix Du Reve (9/1), Pravalaguna (14/1), Capeland (28/1), Castafiore (33/1)

Old rivals Defi Du Seuil, LOSTINTRANSLATION and Vinndication clash in what looks to be a fascinating renewal of the Grade 1 JLT Chase. The 2017 Triumph Hurdle winner picked off the selection with a sharp turn of foot in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown, a race in which Vinndication reportedly found conditions too testing. However, stamina and will power are the forte of the Colin Tizzard-trained runner, with such attributes coming brimming to the fore when fighting back to beat Defi Du Seuil in the Dipper Novices' Chase over C&D previously (traits which were also firmly on display when chasing home the still unbeaten chaser La Bague Au Roi at Newbury).