The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is better known to many as the RSA Chase or the Sun Alliance Chase.
RSA Insurance (formerly Sun Alliance), sponsored the race from 1974 until 2020.
Originally the Broadway Novices’ Chase, its outstanding roll of honour features future Gold Cup winners including the great Arkle, plus Grand National hero Minnehoma.
It is frequently referred to as the Gold Cup for novice chasers being run, as it is, over a distance of just over 3 miles. But, unlike the Gold Cup, it's run on the Old Course.
The race has certainly been a natural stepping stone to the blue-riband event.
The last horse to complete the double was Lord Windermere, in 2013 and 2014 - after the likes of Denman and Bob's Worth
Minello Indo finished second in 2020 before winning the Gold Cup in 2021, while dual Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo fell two out while still in contention in 2018.
Don Cossack also fell in this race, in 2014, before winning the Gold Cup 2 years later.
Smaller fields tend to go to post nowadays since the introduction of the Turners Chase - which gives trainers the option of running their star novices over a shorter trip.
BROWN ADVISORY CHASE TRENDS
15 of the last 16 winners had finished 1st or 2nd in a G1 or G2 chase
10 of the last 12 winners ran over hurdles at the previous year's Festival
8 of the last 8 winners were rated 150+
18 of the last 23 winners were aged 7
8 of the last 23 favourites won
Updated to include 2022 renewal
Graded form coming into this novices' chase appears to be essential, while course form is another strong pointer.
2022 winner, L'Homme Presse, had won The Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham's New Year's Day meeting.
And the four previous Brown Advisory Chase winners had all finished either first or second over hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival 12 months earlier.
Willie Mullins has trained a record five winners - one more than Nicky Henderson.
BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ CHASE 2024 ODDS
LAST 5 WINNERS’ DATA
YEAR
AGE
OFFICIAL RATING
WEIGHT
2023
7
153
11-7
2022
7
159
11-4
2021
7
164
11-4
2020
8
153
11-4
2019
7
155
11-4
RECENT WINNERS
YEAR
WINNER
JOCKEY / TRAINER
SP
2023
The Real Whacker
Sam Twiston-Davies / Patrick Neville
8/1
2022
L'Homme Presse
Charlie Deutsch / Venetia Williams
9/4f
2021
Monkfish
Paul Townend / Willie Mullins
1/4f
2020
Champ
Barry Geraghty / Nicky Henderson
4/1
2019
Topofthegame
Harry Cobden / Paul Nicholls
4/1
2018
Presenting Percy
Davy Russell / Patrick G Kelly
5/2f
2017
Might Bite
Nico de Boinville / Nicky Henderson
7/2f
2016
Blaklion
Ryan Hatch / Nigel Twiston-Davies
8/1
2015
Don Poli
Bryan Cooper / Willie Mullins
13/8f
2014
O'Faolains Boy
Barry Geraghty / Rebecca Curtis
12/1
2013
Lord Windermere
Davy Russell / Jim Culloty
8/1
2012
Bobs Worth
Barry Geraghty / Nicky Henderson
9/2
2011
Bostons Angel
Robbie Power / Jessica Harrington
16/1
2010
Weapon's Amnesty
Davy Russell / Charles Byrnes
10/1
2009
Cooldine
Ruby Walsh / Willie Mullins
9/4f
2008
Albertas Run
Tony McCoy / Jonjo O'Neill
4/1f
2007
Denman
Ruby Walsh / Paul Nicholls
6/5f
2006
Star de Mohaison
Barry Geraghty / Paul Nicholls
14/1
2005
Trabolgan
Mick Fitzgerald / Nicky Henderson
5/1
2004
Rule Supreme
David Casey / Willie Mullins
25/1
2003
One Knight
Richard Johnson / Philip Hobbs
15/2
2002
Hussard Collonges
Russ Garritty / Peter Beaumont
33/1
2001
Festival Cancelled
2000
Lord Noelie
Jim Culloty / Henrietta Knight
9/2
There was drama shortly before the 2022 Brown Advisory Chase, as ante-post favourite Bravemansgame was pulled out by Paul Nicholls owing to the increasingly soft ground.
But the conditions did nothing to thwart L’Homme Presse, who gave jockey Charlie Deutsch his first Festival success with what the Racing Post described as:
‘ONE OF THE FINEST DISPLAYS OF JUMPING FROM A NOVICE EVER SEEN AT THE COURSE’
One of the most memorable finishes in Festival history took place in 2017, as Might Bite rallied to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against his stablemate Whisper.
** Golden Knight finished first in 1940 but an objection was sustained (swerved after jumping the last fence)
*** The winning trainer was recorded at the time as J. Delaney who held the license to train for Mrs Moon as women were 'not permitted to hold licenses under rules'
Originally called the Broadway Novices' Chase, the race was split into two divisions from 1948-50: ‡ Division 1, † Division 2
From 1964-73 the race was sponsored by the Tote and called the Totalisator Champion Novices' Chase.
BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ CHASE FAQ’s
What is the RSA Chase now called?
The RSA Chase is now called the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. RSA Insurance (formerly Sun Alliance and then Royal and Sun Alliance), were the race sponsors from 1974-2020.
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