2023 Esher Novices' Chase Tips - Nicholls' Cheltenham winner to claim Grade Two glory

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 06 Dec 2023

Jon Vine 06 Dec 2023

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Odds and betting predictions for the Esher Novices' Chase
This Grade Two at Sandown on Friday 8th December
Stay Away Fay is our best bet at 10/11

Expired

Harry Cobden riding Stay Away Fay clear the last to win The Betway 'Future Stars' Silver Bowl Novices' Chase at Exeter Racecourse. (Getty)

Before we enjoy a feast of Grade One action on Tingle Creek day, Friday's card at Sandown is headlined by two Grade Two contests. The second of those races is the Esher Novices' Chase, which will see two of Britain's most exciting novice chasers square off for the first time.

Here's our free guide to the 2023 Esher Novices' Chase, including our best betting tips.

2023 Esher Novices' Chase Odds

Name	Odds
Stay Away Fay	10/11
Giovinco	7/4
The Changing Man	4/1
Conkwell Legend	40/1

2023 Esher Novices' Chase Runners

Albert Bartlett winner, Stay Away Fay made the perfect start to life over fences at Exeter last month. Paul Nicholls' runner was passed by Grey Dawning and The Changing Man on the approach to the second-last, only for Harry Cobden's mount to turn on the afterburners late on and get back up to win.

Having fallen on his first chase start at Carlisle, Giovinco made it second time lucky over the larger obstacles at Aintree. The low sun meant his jumping wasn't tested as much as it should have been, but Lucinda Russell's rising star powered home under top weight to claim a cosy victory.

The Changing Man reopposes Stay Away Fay, having run a cracker to finish second in that red-hot Novices' Chase at Exeter. The fourth and final entrant is Conkwell Legend, who's been entered simply to pick up fourth-place prize money.

2023 Esher Novices' Chase Tips

Giovinco was somewhat of a talking horse during the off-season, having shown plenty of ability over hurdles. I was pleased to see Lucinda Russell's star bounce back to winning ways at Aintree. Nine of the 19 fences were omitted that day, though, and the track at Sandown will provide a much stiffer test of Giovinco's fencing.

STAY AWAY FAY (10/11), as most of Paul Nicholls' novice chasers do, jumped superbly on his chase debut at Exeter. The favourite was put under severe pressure on the approach to the second-last, but the way Hary Cobden's mount responded and got his head back in front was extremely impressive.

The track at Sandown will certainly suit a dour stayer like Stay Away Fay and I can't see the fearsome railway fences posing him any problems. Grey Dawning boosted the form of that Exeter race when bolting up at Haydock on Betfair Chase day, so that's another tick in the market leader's column.

Verdict

Esher Novices' Chase 2023

Considering there are only four runners in this race and the top two are clear of the others in terms of class, I thought 10/11 about Stay Away Fay was very fair indeed.

Stay Away Fay

2023 Esher Novices' Chase Tips

@10/11 - 15 Units

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