Turners' Novices' Chase 2023 Tips - Irish challenger worth backing each-way

Here's our free guide and tips for the 2023 Turners Novices' Chase.

Mighty Potter has barely put a foot wrong since being sent over fences. Gordon Elliott's star won cosily on his chase debut at Down Royal, before going on to beat Gaillard Du Mesnil in the Drinmore. Davy Russell's mount was even more impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival, where Mighty Potter comprehensively outjumped a quintet of Willie Mullins runners to claim an eight-length success.

The one worry I do have with Mighty Potter is Cheltenham itself. Elliott's charge didn't enjoy his first Festival experience in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago. Mighty Potter was noticeably unsettled going around the parade ring and crashed into the rail as he made his way out onto the track. The vets gave Russell's mount the all-clear, but those antics certainly didn't help his cause when the race eventually got underway and Mighty Potter was pulled up well before the end.

Elliott's six-year-old will return to Cheltenham a year older and a year wiser. Mighty Potter brings by far the best form to the table and he's most certainly the one to beat. I just hope the traumatic experience he endured at the Festival 12 months ago doesn't come back to haunt him.

After being comprehensively beaten by El Fabiolo in the Irish Arkle, both Appreciate It and Banbridge will step up in trip at Cheltenham. Of the two, I would prefer to back Banbridge, as Appreciate It is now nine and hasn't set the world alight over fences. Joseph O'Brien's runners brings course-winning form to the table too, but 4/1 isn't an appealing price from an each-way standpoint.

Willie Mullins has given Sir Gerhard an entry in the Turners, despite stating he would rather step his star up to three miles for the Brown Advisory. Mullins could also run Adamently Chosen, James Du Berlais and I Am Maximus, who were all well-beaten behind Mighty Potter at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Henry De Bromhead will run Journey With Me over two-and-a-half-miles - a trip I fear will be too sharp for this stout stayer in the making. Paul Nicholls looks likely to run Stage Star on the back of an impressive handicap triumph on Trials Day. Whether he'll be able to raise his game enough to contend with the best novices Ireland has to offer, only time will tell, but he's not on my each-way shortlist.

At the ante-post stage, I highlighted Balco Coastal as a good value option at 20/1. Nicky Henderson's novice could still run well, but I fear the ground might have gone against him, so I'll switch my each-way allegiance to JAMES DU BERLAIS, who got outpaced and jumped poorly when sixth behind Mighty Potter at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Willie Mullins has always thought highly of this talented gelding, who was the best horse in France back in 2019/2020 and placed second to Klassical Dream in the Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown last season. James Du Berlais will relish the ground at Cheltenham on Thursday and the bookies have overreacted to that below-par effort at Leopardstown.