National Hunt Chase Entries: 37 entered for marathon test at the Cheltenham Festival

After the latest entries stage there are 37 still in the National Hunt Chase which rounds off Day One at the Cheltenham Festival. We have provided the full list of entries at the bottom of this piece and assessed the hopes of some of the market leaders...

The talk all summer and in the early stages of the National Hunt season has been that Gaillard Du Mesnil, third in last season's Brown Advisory, will be coming to this contest as the plum ride father Willie provides son Patrick so often in the National Hunt Chase. Stattler was definitely good enough and quick enough for the more prestigious three mile race but Patrick saved him for this and he won as he liked. Many believe Gaillard Du Mesnil could do the same, including the oddsmakers who have him best priced 11/8. The major doubt right now is that he is too good for the race and would stand a live chance in the three mile showpiece, but for now he heads the entries for the former four miler.

With such a short priced favourite it is no surprise to see a fair gap back to the second favourite for the race, and the horse following Mullins' jolly in the odds is Chemical Energy for Gordon Elliott. If Gaillard Du Mesnil were to be rerouted he would probably take favouritism and at 5/1 could be a good thievery each-way bet at this stage for those that way inclined. He has rock solid form around Cheltenham and will stay all day so has a live chance. Gerri Colombe is another from the Elliott yard still entered and although he is much more likely to head for the Brown Advisory, bookmakers aren't taking many chances pricing him up as the third favourite at around 10/1. Interestingly, William Hill are the only NRNB firm so far and they have this horse at just 3/1, which shows how much of a chance he would have were he to rock up on Day One.

Ramilles was always well regarded at Closutton and as he is in the same ownership as the hot favourite for this race it would be no surprise to see the two staying novices split up. That has not stopped a fair bit of market support for this one of late for this race and he is 10/1 pretty much across the boards at the time of writing. 

There are a host of horses further down the odds list who could get involved and shorten up considerably were they to be confirmed for this contest. Willie Mullins is of course mob-handed and he has left in 2021 Champion Bumper second Kilcruit still entered here. Despite his quality bumper form Kilcruit has always looked laden with stamina and the test this race offers could be right up his street if he is sent here. Minella Crooner sadly missed last season's Albert Bartlett when well fancied but is back to fitness this campaign and although he was disappointing when well beaten behind Impervious, that race was over a far from ideal trip of just 2 mile 3 furlongs for one with such abundant stamina. He needs three miles at an absolute minimum to be seen to best effect so this race could be ideal.

Way back in 2018, Mr Adjudicator just failed to get past Farclas in the Triumph Hurdle. He hasn't really kicked on from that day but five years on has been sent chasing and his sole entry at the festival is in this race. He is an enormous price and would have to roll back the years in terms of ability to get involved, but would certainly be an interesting participant if he is there when the race begins.

2023 National Hunt Chase Entries

• Aione
• Amirite
• Bellatrixsa
• Blackjack Magic
• Bowtogreatness
• Bronn
• Captain Kangaroo
• Chavez
• Chemical Energy
• Churchstonewarrior
• City Chief
• Coeur Serein
• Coolvalla
• Fakiera
• Frontal Assault
• Gaillard Du Mesnil
• Gerri Colombe
• Glengouly
• Gold Cup Bailly
• Gustavian
• Harper's Brook
• Hidden Heroics
• I Am Maximus
• Idas Boy
• Iron Bridge
• Jon Snow
• Kilcruit
• Mahler Mission
• Malinello
• Minella Crooner
• Mister Coffey
• Mr Adjudicator
• Rambranlt'jac
• Ramillies
• Tea For Free
• Tenzing
• Walking On Glass