National Hunt Chase Tips 2021 – Galvin the NAP on day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival
The Grade Two National Hunt Chase, now run over the recently revised distance of 3 miles, 5 furlongs and 201 yards on the Old Course at Cheltenham, is restricted to novice chasers and amateur riders and, as such, is always likely to be eventful.
National Hunt Chase Betting Tips
The 4:50 race from Cheltenham is the National Hunt Chase. The longest Chase race of the week if you exclude the Cross Country affair, it’s run over 3m6f. It’s a shame that we don’t have any amateur riders for the 2021 renewal but it still looks set to be a fascinating contest. Next Destination has made a late switch here for the Paul Nicholls team and he must hold serious chances on all known form. The step-up in trip should hold no fears and he goes into the race with a lively chance to give Nicholls another Festival winner.
I can’t get away from GALVIN NAP (7/4 with bet365) here though who has been laid out for this race. He has Cheltenham Festival form in the book as he chased home Ryanair contender Imperial Aura in the Novice Handicap Chase last year. He has then won his last four races including when stepping up to 3m for the first time here at Cheltenham back in November. He powered clear staying on strongly to win that day which gives the impression the further step up in trip to 3m6f will be no problem. It also doesn’t appear to be an issue on breeding. Galvin has had a nice break since and this has always been the number one target for his season. He has moved to Ian Ferguson temporarily due to the Gordon Elliot situation but I’m not concerned by this as he spends most of the summer months at Ian’s yard so he’ll be very familiar with it. A classy horse who will be tough to beat.
Selection: GALVIN NAP (7/4 with bet365)
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National Hunt Chase Trends
Age – 9 of the last 12 winners were aged between 6 and 8.
Price – 3 of the last 12 winners were favorites/joint favorites, 5/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting.
Last Run – 4/12 winners won on their last run before Cheltenham, 8/12 winners had their last run within the last 52 days.
Previous Course Form – 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, only 2 had a previous win at Cheltenham.
Previous Distance Form – 9/12 winners had at least 3 previous runs over at least 3 miles, 10/12 winners had at least 1 previous win over at least 3 miles.
Previous Chase Form – 12/12 winners had at least 3 previous chase runs, 10/12 winners had at least 4 previous chase runs, 10/12 winners had at least 1 previous chase win
Rating – 10/12 winners had a rating of 139 or higher.
Season Form – 10/12 winners had at least 4 runs that season, 10/12 winners had at least 1 win that season.
National Hunt Chase Recent Winners
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2009 | Tricky Trickster | Sam Waley-Cohen | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2010 | Poker De Sivola | K Walsh | Ferdy Murphy |
| 2011 | Chicago Grey | Derek O’Connor | Gordon Elliott |
| 2012 | Teaforthree | J T McNamara | Rebecca Curtis |
| 2013 | Back In Focus | P W Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 2014 | Midnight Prayer | Joshua Newman | Alan King |
| 2015 | Cause of Causes | J J Codd | Gordon Elliott |
| 2016 | Minella Rocco | Derek O’Connor | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 2017 | Tiger Roll | Ms L O’Neill | Gordon Elliott |
| 2018 | Rathvinden | P W Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 2019 | Le Breuil | J J Codd | Ben Pauling |
| 2020 | Ravenhill | J J Codd | Gordon Elliott |
National Hunt Chase 2020 Result
1st – Ravenhill (12/1)
2nd – Lord Du Mesnil (11/2)
3rd – Lamanver Pippin (33/1)
4th – Forza Milan (12/1)