Brown Advisory Novices' Chase 2022: Bravemansgame tops 17 entries for Grade 1

Bravemansgame and Galopin Des Champs are two of the star names among the 17 horses entered for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, which will take place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on March 16...

Four wins out of four over fences has rocketed Bravemansgame to the head of the betting for this 3m Grade 1 contest, and he will be a leading fancy to make it five from five next Wednesday, as he looks to hand Paul Nicholls another top class success at the meeting. He is sure to face a notable adversary in the shape of the Venetia Williams-trained L'Homme Presse, who has also won all four of his races over fences, and he was last seen bounding to victory in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown Park. The Williams charge will tackle three miles for the first time in this event, but having won the Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, he has excellent course form and is a huge contender.

Impressive winner of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle last season, Galopin Des Champs has made a perfect start to life over fences, and he has been entered for this event by Willie Mullins. However, fans of the Closutton inmate may want to hold fire on their ante-post bets as he's also entered in the Turners Novices' Chase on day three of the meeting, where he will lock horns with Bob Olinger.

Mullins should still have a strong chance of claiming glory should Galopin Des Champs veer elsewhere, and Capodanno is an eye-catching entry for the Irish handler, while Gaillard Du Mesnil and likely National Hunt Chase contender Stattler add more depth to the Mullins charge.

Four wins on the bounce over fences has seen Threeunderthrufive become a really smart novice chaser this season, and he could well add significant strength in depth to the Nicholls charge, while another major player is the Lucinda Russell-trained Ahoy Senor, who was beaten by Bravemansgame in a vintage renewal of the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, but he bounced back to winning ways when claiming Grade 2 glory in the Towton Novices' Chase, and he is another premier British-trained runner here.

Noel Meade's Beacon Edge was a Grade 1 winner of the Drinmore Novice Chase at the start of the season, but he was last seen being beaten by Farouk D'Alene in a Grade 2 event last time out, and that raider is entered here for Gordon Elliott, and the pair could serve up another fascinating dual.

Of the others entered, Fury Road could add more strength to the Elliott charge, while Nicky Henderson's Dusart has won both his chases to date and could feature in a race that has also attracted the entry of Imperial Alcazar and Streets Of Doyen.