Neville Hotel Novice Chase 2018 Horse Racing Preview, Prediction & Betting Tip

The Neville Hotel Novice Chase (Saturday 29 December) is one of the many highlights of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse. It is a Grade 1 Race run over three miles and horses have to jump 17 fences. Notable past winners have included Dorans Pride, Nick Dundee, Pandorama, Don Poli, Our Duke, and Shattered Love.

Neville Hotel Novice Chase 2018 Trends

• Three of the last eight favourites have won
• SPs of the last eight winners have ranged from 4/9 to 14/1
• Three of the last four winners have been owned by Gigginstown Stud
• Gordon Elliott has trained 2 of the last 3 winners

Neville Hotel Novice Chase 2018 Major Contenders

Delta Work

A progressive five-year-old who won a handicap hurdle over three miles at the Cheltenham Festival before being narrowly denied in a three-mile Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. Always regarded as a chaser though and has won both his novice chases so far. The form of the second of those wins also received a boost when the runner-up Le Richebourg won a Grade 1 Chase this week. Also trained by Gordon Elliott for Gigginstown Stud.

Chris’s Dream

Showed massive improvement on his first run for trainer Henry de Bromhead in February in a novice hurdle in February, but didn’t seem to quite see out the three-mile trip in much better company in a Grade 1 Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Well-backed to win on his chase debut at Navan earlier this month, though only beat a Gordon Elliott trained horse that is considered inferior to Delta Work. Steps back up in trip to three miles here.

Blow By Blow

Also trained by Gordon Elliott and owned by Gigginstown Stud but, despite winning at the Cheltenham Festival off a higher mark than Delta Work, his form has been poor since. That included being well-beaten at both Fairyhouse and Punchestown in Graded Races last season, whilst he was well-beaten in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse behind Delta Work last time.

Champagne Classic

Another string to the Elliott and Gigginstown bows and any money for this one would be interesting after a lay-off since April 2017. However, he finished the 2017 season well there with a handicap win at the Cheltenham Festival, after which he outstayed the reigning Stayers Hurdle winner Penhill in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival. That looks the strongest piece of form in the race and it’s a case of whether he’ll be fully fit if turning out here.

Nevill Hotel Novice Chase 2018 Summary

This is a race that Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown Stud have targeted to great effect recently and another win for the combination looks on the cards. Everyone should sit up and take note if there is money for Champagne Classic but, whether he wins here or not, he’s one to keep an eye on this season. However, everything seems to have gone to plan for the progressive Delta Work in his build up to this race, and the rapidly improving five-year-old will be tough to beat.

Neville Hotel Novice Chase 2018 Betting Tip & Prediction

Delta Work