A contest that generally goes to a progressive second season chaser, Fiddlerontheroof fits that bill perfectly. Five of the last ten winners ran in the Festival Novices’ Chase (RSA as was) the previous season. Colin Tizzard’s charge was runner-up there to Monkfish who was 2022 Gold Cup favourite before being ruled out for the season.
The Colin Tizzard yard are having a far better time of things this season than the last couple. They won this with Native River in 2016 and also went close with Elegant Escape back in 2018 and 2019. Brendan Powell is riding better than at any point of his career at present and that confidence can flow through the reins. – Matt Newman
It is a big ask off top weight but I tipped Brahma Bull for the Kerry National at 50-1 at Listowel and he ran a cracker in second off a heavy weight. He found the well treated Assemble too good on the day but he proved his class and proved that he is more than able to run a big race off top weight.
The 10-year-old is now 4lb higher in the weights but he is a classy type who won the Pat Taaffe Chase at Punchestown back in May, again off top weight. He was only beaten three lengths by Galvin in a Grade 3 at Punchestown in October and this sort of test will be right up his street. He can go from the front or he can be waited with, evident from his Listowel run where he picked up the pieces late on. Willie Mullins is starting to hit form again so he is too big a price to be ignored. – Adrian Wall
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