Brown Advisory Novices' Chase 2026 Tips - Will Final Demand Fold or strike Gold?
The 2026 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival is set to be fiercely competitive following Final Demand's unexpected defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival. With contenders like Western Fold, who showed promising form at the Dublin Racing Festival, and the intriguing outsider Predators Gold, the race is open to surprises. Willie Mullins remains hopeful about his charge, Final Demand, improving, while other strong contenders include Kaid d'Authie and The Big Westerner. The race promises excitement and potential upsets.
- Predictions and best bets for the 2026 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
- This Grade One takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on March 11th
- Western Fold (14/1) and Predators Gold (33/1) feature in our selections
The second of four Grade One races on day two of the Cheltenham Festival is the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, and horses who impress in this year's renewal are likely to be aimed at the Gold Cup in 2027.
We've analysed the field set to take part in this year's race to bring you our Brown Advisory tips for 2026, including our best bet and race verdict.
Last Updated: 9.3.2026
Race Info
| Race | Brown Advisory Novices' Chase |
| Date | Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 |
| Start Time | 2:00pm |
| Status | Grade One |
| Distance | 3m1f |
| First Prize | £112,540 |
| Going | NA |
| Runners | 16 |
| Favourite | Final Demand (7/2) |
The Favourite
A month ago, this year's Brown Advisory seemed like an open-and-shut case. Victories at Navan and Limerick saw Final Demand cut into odds-on favouritism, and Willie Mullins' star was sent off at 30/100 to win the Ladbrokes Novice Chase.
However, everything unravelled for Final Demand at the Dublin Racing Festival. Paul Townend's mount produced a fairly lifeless display and finished third of four, as stablemate Kaid d'Authie took the victory.
Despite that defeat, Final Demand still tops the betting for this Grade One. Willie Mullins seems confident that we'll see a much-improved performance from his budding star at the Cheltenham Festival, and Townend's mount could still go off at a fairly short price.
2026 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Runners
Final Demand's defeat at Leopardstown will result in a much larger field being declared for the Brown Advisory than what was expected in January. Romeo Coolio suddenly seems a likely runner, after Gordon Elliott said he'd rather run his novice here than in the shorter Arkle Challenge Trophy.
Kaid d'Authie will take on the favourite again, and Mark Walsh's mount won't be underestimated this time. The Big Westerner cruised to victory in Grade Two company at Limerick over Christmas and Henry de Bromhead's mare will get seven pounds from the geldings at the weights.
Western Fold ran on to finish second behind Kaid d'Authie at Leopardstown, and Elliott is convinced that his experienced chaser will run a big race. Sixmilebridge is unlikely to step up to three miles, but Britain does have a leading hope in Wendigo, after Jamie Snowden's star won the John Francome at Newbury before a third-place finish in the Kauto Star.
Wendigo finished a couple of lengths adrift of Kitzbuhel at Kempton, and Willie Mullins' star is a likely runner here, despite his fall in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase. Salver was outpaced when fourth at Kempton, but his Grade Two wins around Sandown and Windsor would give him an outside chance. Oscars Brother could play a part too, if Connor King doesn't decide to prioritise either the British or Irish Grand National.
I put up Koktail Divin at the ante-post stage for the Brown Advisory, but the prospect of soft ground and a favourable mark will see Henry de Bromhead target the Jack Richards Novices' Chase instead. The likes of Argento Boy, Kiss Will, Newton Tornado, Soldier In Milan and Wade Out will also go down the handicap route, and many simply won't be good enough.
2026 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Tips
| Bet Type | Name | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Best Bet | Western Fold | 14/1 |
| Value Bet | Predators Gold | 33/1 |
Note: These selections are subject to change. All of my selections will be finalised once the fields have been confirmed.
Final Demand is a real head-scratcher. Mullins' star jumped nicely on his chasing debut, but I wasn't blown away by his performance at Limerick and Leopardstown was a horror show from the word go.
The team retains full faith in this talented seven-year-old, who will probably line up in the Gold Cup in 13 months' time. Final Demand is clearly much better than what he's shown in recent starts, but Paul Townend's mount is hard to back after that performance at the Dublin Racing Festival, and Mullins' raider didn't excel when only third in the Turners Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2025.
I don't think Romeo Coolio really wants to be running over three miles at this stage of his career, and I'm not convinced that The Big Westerner is of Grade One quality, despite her pull at the weights. Wendigo is another whose class can be questioned, but he - like The Big Westerner - is a strong stayer and a solid jumper, who won't be inconvenienced by soft ground.
Kaid d'Authie has really benefitted from the switch to fences, and a change to front-running tactics. Mark Walsh's mount jumped beautifully when beating Final Demand, and looks certain to stay this three-mile trip. That being said, I thought WESTERN FOLD (14/1) was a big eye-catcher in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase, and his experience could be vital in the Cheltenham Festival cauldron.
Elliott's seven-year-old is a second-season novice, having bumped into classy operators over shorter trips last season. An emphatic victory over Oscars Brother at Tipperary last May kicked off a winning sequence for Danny Gilligan's mount, who went on to win at Ballinrobe before a resounding success in the Plate at the Galway Festival.
Western Fold beat Affordale Fury comfortably when the two met for the first time in the PWC Champion Chase. Noel Meade's future Savills Chase winner reversed that form when both finished behind Envoi Allen in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, but neither lost anything in defeat that day, as Henry de Bromhead's multiple Cheltenham Festival winner is sensational at that venue.
Having enjoyed being ridden prominently throughout his winning sequence, Jack Kennedy was keen to hold onto Western Fold when he returned from a break at the Dublin Racing Festival. Approaching the second-last, Kennedy's mount was still 12 lengths adrift of Kaid d'Authie and Final Demand, and Western Fold made up plenty of late ground to cross the line just four lengths adrift of the impressive winner.
Elliott's supposed second-string will be one of the highest-rated runners in this contest. Western Fold is proven over the trip, and has won several times on softer ground, despite his winning run coming over the summer. Gordon's seven-year-old didn't run well in the Coral Cup two years ago, but Western Fold is a completely different horse now, and I could see him going really close at this year's Cheltenham Festival.
One who does interest me at a massive price is PREDATORS GOLD (33/1). Willie Mullins campaigned his seven-year-old at the highest level in novice hurdles - finishing second in two Grade Ones around Leopardstown - before he spent a year out through injury.
Predators Gold marked his return to action by beating Slade Steel and Wingmen at Navan, after which I was expecting him to be stepped up to three miles. Instead, Mullins' charge was sent off at 4/6 for the 19-furlong Super Sub Novice Chase at Punchestown, where Paul Townend's mount jumped the last in the lead, only to get outpaced late on by Kappa Jy Pyke and Jacob's Ladder.
Kappa Jy Pyke is heading for the Arkle and Jacob's Ladder won a two-mile handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, so it was only sheer pace that got Predators Gold beaten that day. Lecky Watson ran in almost identical prep races before his shock victory in last year's Brown Advisory. Willie Mullins might have a similar plan in mind.
Live Stream
Visit our Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Live Stream page if you want to watch any race on day one of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival via a mobile or tablet.
Brown Advisory 2026 FAQs
When is the Brown Advisory 2026?
The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase will take place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 11th March, 2026.
What time does the Brown Advisory go off?
The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase is scheduled to start at 2:00pm on March 10th.
Who will win the 2026 Brown Advisory?
Final Demand's defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival has blown this year's Brown Advisory Novices' Chase wide open. Kaid D'Authie and The Big Westerner are strong contenders, along with Western Fold, who ran a cracker behind Kaid D'Authie at Leopardstown.
Where can I watch the 2026 Brown Advisory?
The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase will be shown live on ITV Racing. You can also stream the race live on a mobile device. Head to our website for more information.
Verdict
Western Fold ran a lovely comeback race at the Dublin Racing Festival, and Gordon Elliott's experienced novice could step his form up again at the Cheltenham Festival.
Predators Gold has shown quality throughout his career, and could be a dangerous outsider to watch out for in this year's Brown Advisory.
Predators Gold has shown quality throughout his career, and could be a dangerous outsider to watch out for in this year's Brown Advisory.
Western Fold
2026 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
@14/1 - 5 Units
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Predators Gold
2026 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
@32/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £10
with promo code NEWBONUS
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