Another very new race in the annals of festival history, having been first run in 2011. Officially registered as The Golden Miller Novices Chase, it is named after Golden Miller, who won 5 consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups between 1932-36, a feat which will surely never be equaled, never mind bettered. The race itself is the first race on the Thursday and sees action moved to the new course after the first 2 days of the festival are run on the old course. Race distance is 2m 4f and there are 17 fences to be jumped meaning that good, accurate jumping, the ability to travel and stamina reserves to kick up the hill in a driving finish are pre-requisites for winning this race. Or, as Vautour demonstrated in 2015, simply being miles better than anything else in the field will also do the trick. The jockey with the most wins is Ruby Walsh with 3, and Willie Mullins tops the trainers chart in this event with 4 winners. This year's renewal has received 52 runners and, as usual, a high proportion of these have also entries in the Arkle or RSA (indeed some horses are even entered in all 3 races). The market is currently headed by Defi Du Seuil after he narrowly defeated Lostintranslation in the Scilly Isles Novices Chase. The task of Le Bague Au Roi in the Flogas Novice Chase was made easier by Delta Work staying in his box but the mare nevertheless won very well. However she is likely to swerve Cheltenham in favour of Aintree and this illustrates the difficulty of trying to even pick a horse that might run in the race, never mind win it. One for a punt on the day of the race I think.
36 runners at the Feb 20th forefeit stage. Glen Forsa is now 3rd favourite after winning the rearranged Kingmaker at Sandown but connections have stated his most likely target is the Arkle.
