Cheltenham: Monkfish secures victory at the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

Monkfish maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a comprehensive success in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

A narrow winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival, the Willie Mullins-trained chestnut was the 1-4 favourite to strike gold in the Cotswolds for a second time, having been faultless in three previous chase starts.

It was not entirely plain sailing for odds-on backers, with The Big Breakaway more than matching Monkfish in the jumping department for much of the three-mile contest, before Paul Townend’s mount displayed his superior class to move clear before the home turn.

The presence of the riderless Eklat De Rire, who unseated Rachael Blackmore earlier in the race, will have had Monkfish’s supporters sweating in the home straight, as would a mistake at the final fence.

But it ultimately made no difference to the result, with the giant seven-year-old galloping up the hill to score by six and a half lengths from Fiddlerontheroof.

More to follow. 

Monkfish won the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on Wednesday after a late scare

Paul Townend guided 1-4 favourite to victory after dealing with a loose horse at the final fence

Monkfish and Townend were six and a half lengths clear of The Big Breakaways’ long-priced stablemate Fiddlerontheroof at the line