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Marsh Novices' Chase
 QuinnBet
Cheltenham 13:20
Grade 1, £131,250 added,
5yo plus,
2m 4f 5y, Class 1    
Thursday 18th March 2021

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1 Chantry House 9/1
2 Fusil Raffles 14/1
3 Asterion Forlonge 14/1
8 ran Distances: 3l, 2l, 3l
Time: 5m 1.75s (slow by 7.75s)

Nico de Boinville insisted “never discount Nicky Henderson” after helping to deliver the trainer’s 70th career victory at The Festival as Chantry House won the Marsh Novices’ Chase.

Much of the build-up to the Grade One race had been devoted to the 4-9 favourite, Envoi Allen, but after he and jockey Jack Kennedy parted company at the fourth fence it was left to Dan Skelton’s Shan Blue to press on.

However, it was 9-1 chance Chantry House with de Boinville on board who quickened in the closing stages, jumping the last ahead of stablemate Fusil Raffles before securing a three length victory.

It was a 67th Festival success for owner J P McManus and his first of 2021.

Trainers Quotes

Speaking at the post-race press conference, Nicky Henderson said: “He was very good, although last year in the Supreme we knew he really wanted another another half a mile, today when he got the extra half it looked as though he wanted another half.

“You’d have to think he might be going over three miles sooner rather than later. I don’t see why not - it depends on how quickly they recover from these races as to whether he can go on to Aintree - but it looks as though he will be looking for three miles. He was about in top gear all the way, but when he got there he did it well and he quickened up well. We’ve got a lot of debriefing to do, but it looks as though three miles would help him.

“He was good at Wetherby (on his last run in February); we had a problem here back in December when he had an issue with his back, which we actually had to have surgery on, so he did well to get back in time to get a race in at Wetherby before coming here for this. He’s a lovely horse and I had hoped he would at least give Envoi Allen at least a bit of a race.

“When you get given a chance like that, it’s nice to be able to take it, anyway. It’s a pity Envoi Allen fell, from a lot of points of view - he has looked flawless all year and it was a surprise to see him do that - but you’ve got to grab the chances when you get them.

“It’s very nice to have a winner for JP McManus; we’ve done a lot of talking through the week and we’ve had a couple of disappointments, but it’s nice to get back on the board for him because it’s very important to him, and all of us.”

Trainers Quotes

Nico de Boinville told ITV Racing: “He was third in the Supreme last year, all credit to the team at home for bringing him back. He slightly struggled in the soft ground round here in December and I’m just absolutely delighted. I hope Envoi Allen is alright.

“It’s great for JP and his team, they put so much work into the sport and it’s fantastic to get the job done.

“I didn’t even know [Envoi Allen] had come down. I was wondering when he was going to come pick me up in the straight, so it’s news to me when and where he went.

“Never discount Nicky Henderson round here, or ever. It’s been a tough couple of months, but the horses seem to be returning to form. Trust in the Guv’nor!”

Willie Mullins, trainer of third-placed Asterion Forlonge said: “I’m very, very happy. He jumped straight and galloped the whole way to the line. I thought we had a little chance coming to the third last, but the ones in front just kept galloping. I’m very pleased with this fella and we’re thinking about potentially Fairyhouse for him next.”

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Envoi Allen said: "Jack (Kennedy, jockey) just said he was a little bit keen. He just launched at the fence, unfortunately, and that was it. I've had a look at him though and he looked fine, and Jack's fine too, so that's good."

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Marsh Novices' Chase
(Registered as The Golden Miller Novices' Chase)
Grade 1, £131,250 added, 5yo plus, 2m 4f 5y, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Chantry House 7 11-4 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 9/1
2 3 Fusil Raffles 6 11-4 Nicky Henderson Daryl Jacob 14/1
3 2 Asterion Forlonge 7 11-4 W P Mullins Paul Townend 14/1
4 3 Chatham Street Lad 9 11-4 Michael Winters Darragh O'Keeffe 14/1
5 4 Shan Blue 7 11-4 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 10/1
6 30 Blackbow 8 11-4 W P Mullins B J Cooper 40/1
7 25 Darver Star 9 11-4 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donaghue 33/1
FELL Envoi Allen 7 11-4 1 Henry De Bromhead Jack Kennedy

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Previous results - MARSH NOVICES’ CHASE

Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran

2020 Samcro 8 11-4 Davy Russell Gordon Elliott Gigginstown House Stud 4/1 12

2019 Defi Du Seuil 6-11-04 Barry Geraghty Philip Hobbs JP McManus 3/1F 10

2018-WINNER-SHATTERED LOVE 5-10-11 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Jack Kennedy; SP-4/1
2ND-Terrefort 5-11-03 Owner-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-3/1 Fav
3RD-Benatar 6-11-04 Owner-Ashley Head; Trainer-Gary Moore; Jockey-Jamie Moore; SP-10/1
9 ran, Time-5m 11.80s Dist-7, 12

2017-WINNER-YORKHILL 7-11-04 Owner-Andrea & Graham Wylie; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/4 Fav
2ND-Top Notch 6-11-04 Owner-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-7/2
3RD-Disko 6-11-04 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gigginstown House Stud; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-4/1 8 ran, Time-5m 0.20s Dist-1, 3

2016-BLACK HERCULES 7-11-04 Owner-Andrea & Graham Wylie; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-4/1 Co- Fav
2ND-Bristol De Mai 5-11-04 Owner-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-4/1 Co-Fav
3RD-L’Ami Serge 6-11-04 Owner-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Nico de Boinville; SP-8/1
9 ran, Time-4m 55.20s Dist-3, 1 4/1 Co-Fav Garde La Victoire (Fell)

2015-VAUTOUR 6-11-04 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/4 Fav
2ND-Apache Stronghold 7-11-04 Owner-Patricia Hunt; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-7/1
3RD-Valseur Lido 6-11-04 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-9/2
8 ran, Time-4m 46.30s Dist-15, sh

2014-TAQUIN DU SEUIL 7-11-04 Owner-Martin Broughton & Friends 1; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-7/1
2ND-Uxizandre 6-11-04 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-33/1
3RD-Double Ross 8-11-04 Owner-Options O Syndicate; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Sam Twiston-Davies; SP-11/1
12 ran, Time-4m 56.72s Dist-¾, 1¼ 7/2 Fav Felix Younger (4th)

2013-WINNER-BENEFFICIENT 7-11-04 Owner-Adrian Shiels & Niall Reilly; Trainer-Tony Martin IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-20/1
2ND-Dynaste 7-11-04 Owner-John White; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Tom Scudamore; SP-11/8 Fav
3RD-Changing Times 7-11-04 Owner-C J Haughey; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Sam Twiston-Davies; SP-100/1
13 ran, Time-5m 4.80s Dist-3¼, 1

2012-WINNER-SIR DES CHAMPS 6-11-04 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-3/1
2ND-Champion Court 7-11-04 Owner-Martin Boothwright; Trainer-Martin Keighley; Jockey-Alain Cawley; SP-8/1
3RD-For Non Stop 7-11-04 Owner-Chris Giles & Jared Sullivan; Trainer-Nick Williams; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-8/1
10 ran, Time-4m 52.80s Dist-4½, 9

2011-WINNER-NOBLE PRINCE 7-11-04 Owner-Des Sharkey; Trainer-Paul Nolan IRE; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-4/1
2ND-Wishfull Thinking 8-11-04 Owner-Diana Whateley; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-7/2 Fav
3RD-Loosen My Load 7-11-04 Owner-Alan & Ann Potts Partnership; Trainer-Henry De Bromhead IRE; Jockey-Andrew Lynch; SP-15/2
11 ran, Time-4m 49.82s Dist-4, 5

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