The Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase (Saturday 23 February 2019) is run over 2 miles 4 furlongs and 110 yards at Kempton. It is named after Pendil, an exciting chaser in the 1970’s that won several races at Kempton including the King George VI Chase and the race now known as the 888Sport Handicap Chase.
Notable winners include Monsieur Le Cure, Captain Chris, Balder Success, and Frodon, while one of the stars of the 2019 season Cyrname won the 2018 renewal.
Pendil Novices’ Chase 10-year-Trends
- Winners have been aged between five and nine
- Weights ranging from 11-0 to 11-7 have been carried to victory
- Winners have been rated between 136 and 153, with seven rated 150+
- Six favourites and one joint-favourite have won
- SP’s have ranged from 2/5 to 5/1
- Paul Nicholls has trained seven of the last 10 winners
Pendil Novices’ Chase 2019 Main Contenders
Secret Investor
It’s no surprise to see this seven-year-old vying for favouritism, as his trainer Paul Nicholls has trained an amazing 10 of the last 13 winners. He also has winning course form. The negatives are he may be better suited by further and that he has to make up the nine lengths he was beaten by Bags Groove earlier in the season which, as he’s just 5lb better off at the weights, he’s not entitled to do.
Bags Groove
Officially the best horse by 8lb on ratings and only has to concede his rivals 5lb here. He’s also a course winner and easily beat his main market rival Shrewd Investor last time they met. The big negative is that he was well-beaten in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Christmas but, having not been able to dominate there, he could find this drop-in-class to his liking.
Capeland
Potential second runner for Paul Nicholls but he’s rated 10lb inferior to Bags Groove. Consistent sort, who has finished first or second in each of his last eight runs over fences, but he’s another that probably needs Bags Groove to perform below his best to take advantage.
Good Man Pat
Trainer Alan King trained Balder Success to win the 2014 renewal of this race but Good Man Pat has a long way to go to match the success that horse enjoyed. His win last time in a handicap off a mark of 135 earned him a mark of 139 here but this is a big step-up from a class three to a grade two.
Pendil Novices’ Chase 2019 Betting Tip
Punters that follow trainers in races they consistently do well in will want to be with either of the Paul Nicholls trained runners Shrewd Investor or Capeland. But the fact that seven of the last 10 winners were rated 150 or higher suggests the 153-rated Bags Groove has the best chance. The form book also suggests that as he should be able to confirm his earlier nine-lengths win over Shrewd Investor conceding him 5lb this time.
Pendil Novices’ Chase 2019 Tip
Bags Groove