2024 Turners Novices' Chase Form: All the form pointers for the Grade 1 at Cheltenham

We have all the latest form pointers and odds for the 2024 Turners Novices' Chase, which takes place at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 14th March and looks set to be a fabulous renewal on day three of the meeting. Attracting some of the premier middle distance novice chasers in the UK & Ireland, the Turners will be one of the most hotly-anticipated races during the whole week and we have all the latest form guides to follow and ante-post odds for the race here....

October Form Pointers

A former runner-up in the Champion Hurdle, Sharjah is set for a fascinating campaign over fences at the tender age of 10 and the Willie Mullins-trained raider has made an impressive start to his novice chasing campaign as he built on a debut success at Galway in August with a fine win at Tipperary in October. The veteran performer jumped impressively in that success at Tipperary and while he will have his work cut out dealing with the young brigade heading over fences this season he's a proven class act and could be a surprise package in either the Turners or the Arkle come March.

Second in the Albert Bartlett at last season's festival, Affordale Fury was an impressive winner on chasing debut, but that dour stayer could be bound for a crack at the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase the day before the Turners, while Lucinda Russell's Giovinco made a far from impressive start over fences when falling at Carlisle, but the six-year-old was a class act over timber last season and is certainly not one to discount when making a shortlist of novice chasers to watch this season.

November Form Pointers

Letsbeclearaboutit for Gavin Cromwell could hardly have been more impressive on his chase debut at Cork on Bonfire Night, with plenty of fireworks going off as he jumped with gusto and demolished his rivals.

Cromwell has always been insistent this lad is a chaser in the making and he certainly earned his short price quotes for both this race and the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival. His trainer has seemingly hinted this race is his more likely target, saying:“He was very good and looks an out-and-out chaser. You’d have to be excited by him. We’ll probably give him a Drinmore entry. It’s four weeks away, and that’s what’s on my mind at the moment. I don’t think he needs to go three miles, as he has plenty of gears and he loves jumping."

At 12/1 perhaps many will think the value has gone, especially with his target unconfirmed and so long to go until the Festival, but it was certainly a taking debut and if he does line up come Thursday he should be a fascinating runner.

Last year's Martin Pipe winner Iroko made a sumptuous start to his chasing career with a facile win in a Warwick novices' chase and the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained raider was slashed significantly in the betting for the Turners and he's likely to step into Graded company next time out. Meanwhile, over in Ireland at Fairyhouse, Imagine was a taking winner of a beginners chase on the same day and he beat some smart hurdlers including Sandor Clegane and that race is certainly one that could have some notable Turners form lines in.

There was a mouth-watering battle between Grangeclare West and Corbetts Cross in a beginners chase at Naas, but it was the former that showed a sparkling performance to land the prize for the Mullins operation and he could be a major Turners contenders. Corbetts Cross, who is likely to step up in trip, was never able to get close to Grangeclare West, who jumped impressively and quickened nicely away from smart rivals in what was a taking debut over fences. Meanwhile, during the same weekend we saw an electric performance Knappers Hill for Paul Nicholls as that emerging chaser scooted to Grade 2 glory in the Rising Stars Novices' Chase at Wincanton and he's likely to take on tougher rivals next time out.

2022 Champion Bumper winner Facile Vega made an impressive start to his chasing career with a comfortable win at Navan in mid-November and the Willie Mullins-trained raider got the better of Inthepocket in impressive fashion. Sparkling over two miles that day, it's like Facile Vega heads to the Arkle, but he's still well fancied for the Turners, while Inthepocket lacked that turn of pace, so is more likely to end up here, but he will need to improve on that first run over the larger obstacles.

Yet more exciting Willie Mullins-trained talent excelled over fences at the end of November as Gaelic Warrior was a mightily-impressive winner on chasing debut at Punchestown, as he stormed to a 15-length success. Now, it's a horse that will be on everyone's lips until March as he's a horse that could line up here or in the Brown Advisory, but he's sure to be well fancied for either and he certainly impressed on his first start over fences.

December Form Pointers

A classy novice hurdler, Hermes Allen made his novice chasing debut in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices' Chase at Newbury on December 1 and the Paul Nicholls-trained raider put in an impressive debut as he stormed to a six-and-a-half length win. Jumping well for most of the contest, the Ditcheat inmate was bought as a chaser and is another that could be bound for the Turners in March.

Irish Grand National winner I Am Maximus caused a shock in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse as the seven-year-old beat Found A Fifty and Letsbeclearaboutit in a cracking renewal. The latter pairing are two that have been uttered as Turners potentials, but will need to improve on that effort. The day before there had been an impressive win for Corbetts Cross over Three Card Brag in a Fairyhouse Beginners' Chase and while that pair could be more likely seen in the Brown Advisory they are both class acts and are smart, exciting novice chasers.