The Marsh Chase, formerly known as the JLT Novices’ Chase, is one of the newer races on the Cheltenham Festival calendar – the inaugural race was in 2011.
With 17 fences to jump over the two-mile, four furlongs trip, it is the ultimate test of both speed and stamina and the 2020 renewal has all the makings of a classic.
While the RSA Novices’ Chase is viewed primarily as the main novice trial for the following Cheltenham Gold Cup, winners of the Marsh Chase also deserve consideration for the blue riband race.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves yet though, it is time to look at the main Marsh Novices’ Chase trends from the last nine years.
Marsh Chase Trends & Statistics
Looking back at previous renewals of the Marsh Chase, or JLT Chase for historical purposes, we find a number of key trends to bear in mind ahead of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.
- All 9 winners made their debut in France OR Ireland.
- 9 out of 9 winners ran in a Graded race last time out.
- Every winner had been placed in a race in the 80 days prior to Cheltenham.
- All 9 winners were either six OR seven years old.
- 9/9 had raced between three and five times that season.
- 9 out of 9 had ran in a field with between three and eight runners last time out.
- 8 of the 9 winners had six or more career wins.
- 8/9 went off no bigger than 7/1 in horse racing betting odds for the race.
Top Trainers For The Marsh Chase
13-time Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins has trained four of the nine Marsh Novices’ Chase winners since 2011 and he will have a strong hand in the 2020 renewal.
Faugheen is the current market leader but the likes of Bapaume, Allaho and Easy Game could also go to post.
Heading into the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, Paul Nicholls has a miserable record in the race.
Despite being one of the top National Hunt trainers to follow, Nicholls is 0-10 in the Marsh Novices’ Chase, with all 10 runners finishing outside the places.
Turners Novices Chase Prize Money
With a total prize fund of £150,000 up for grabs, the Marsh Chase is well worth targeting if your horse is good enough.
Faugheen is an 11-time Grade One winner but can he win this coveted novice chase as a 12-year-old? Only time will tell.
*Credit for the photo in this article belongs to Alamy*
