Grade One Ladbrokes Novice Chase Guide 2023

In a race dominated by Wille Mullins runners, James Du Berlais looks to arguably be his strongest chance along with Gaillard Du Mesnil.

He showed good form overseas in France before joining this trainer's stable in 2021. He was pitched into Grade 1 races and managed to finish a decent second at a double-digit price to stablemate Klassical Dream over 3 miles at Punchestown.

Went chasing for the first time after a very long break of 612 days and it could not have gone any better as he cruised to victory winning by 15 lengths.

It was heavy ground that day too so only more can be expected in better conditions and he will get that here.

Holds multiple entries for this year's Cheltenham Festival and has the potential to improve and make further progress.

Gaillard Du Mesnil has shown all the signs that he will be at his very best over a longer trip and he holds an entry in this year's National Hunt Novices' Chase at the festival.

This 7-year-old grey was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and achieved the same over fences on his latest outing. He beat Churchstonewarrior by 7 1/2 lengths and won in taking fashion.

That was run over 3 miles, but he drops back in trip here and should put it up to the likes of stablemate James Du Berlais and current favourite for the race Mighty Potter.

One of five for Willie Mullins who won the race last season with this year's favourite for the Gold Cup Galopin Des Champs.

Kilcruit was a Grade 1 winner in Bumpers and since then he won just the once over hurdles before being sent chasing. He always seemed the type to end up chasing and did not disappoint after a 204-day break.

He was the odds-on favourite, but still went and won impressively as he beat an outsider of the field by 9 1/2 lengths.

It was a poor race, but he did what he came to do before stepping up to Grade 1 company next time out. He managed to finish third behind stablemate and fellow rival Adamantly Chosen and he can reverse that form here.

Respected, but the trainer has a couple of others who make greater appeal.

I Am Maximus looks set to struggle here as he is bound to find a few too good on this occasion. An interesting runner regardless, as he was formally trained by Nicky Henderson.

He won once over hurdles before being sent chasing by Willie Mullins and has finished second in his two races over fences so far where he went off as the odds-on favourite on both days.

They clearly must hold this horse in fairly high regard, but he will find it tough against a few of these and finds himself in much deeper waters here.

The only non Willie Mullins runner in the field and Mighty Potter will be tough to beat if he continues to show progress over fences.

He is currently 2/2 as he won the Grade 1 Drinmore at Fairyhouse on his last start beating a rival who he faces again here in Gaillard Du Mesnil.

The latter will have to be at his best to reverse any sort of form as Gordon Elliot's charge seems to really have taken well to fences.

Was also a Grade 1 winner over hurdles so has terrific form in previous attempts over the smaller obstacles as well. The one to beat and one to be interested in come the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.

The last of the Willie Mullins team is Adamantly Chosen who is a Grade 3 winner over fences and he also came second in a Grade 1 behind the unbeaten Gerri Colombe last time out.

Faces Kilcruit again here as he was also in that race and it is fair to say he can get the better of that rival for what would be the second time in a short space of time.

This race looks tough but he can have a good crack at Grade 1 company again. Entered for this year's Turners Novices' Chase at the festival, but it is unlikely that he will be good enough to win here and ultimately there too.