The Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase is a new race on the Cheltenham Festival roster this season. Matty Sutcliffe believes he has found the winner too, with this 14/1 shot…
Jack Richards’ Novice Handicap – Asian Master 14/1 1pt WIN
I was a touch disappointed when seeing the official entries for this contest last week, as I was hoping it might attract somewhat of a classier field given it is, after all, a Cheltenham Festival contest. Such disappointment is exacerbated by the fact that Jagwar is the 5/1 clear favourite in here, as I don’t particularly think he’s thrown in o 139 nor do I think he won a deep Timeform Novice’ handicap chase last time out, and for those reasons I am keen to take him on and play this ante-post.
With the weight published today, it was pleasing to see ASIAN MASTER go up only a pound to 144 (same o hurdles mark), carrying only 11-2 and if he wasn’t owned/ridden by the Costello’s, I’m sure he’d be single figures in here.
The son of Shirocco was a six length second to Fact To File in their Belharbour point-to-point, before later going on to win one himself at Belclare to beat the current NHC Novices’ Chase favourite Now Is The Hour. Having switched yards to run under rules for Willie Mullins, he made a winning debut at Thurles to lower the colours of his Evens-priced stablemate Jimmy Du Seuil by a neck in game fashion, with that one going on to nish second to Ballyburn in the Gallagher’s. Having supposedly took Mullins by surprise with the speed he showed there, he went on to beat the subsequent Martin Pipe winner Better Days Ahead by ten lengths in a Navan Maiden Hurdle with that one now rated 152 over fences, after G1 second and a G1 win.
He was far from disgraced when fourth in the Supreme having chartered a wide course throughout, staying on well having looked a touch outpaced just off the turn. Then after challenging wide throughout again at Punchestown, he couldn’t lay a glove on the protagonists for all he wasn’t given a great ride, and again, he shaped as if needing a step up in trip.
Asian Master made his chase debut at Fairyhouse in December, and he took to the discipline with aplomb having pulled well clear of the third with Majborough and Tullyhill, jumping two out in tandem with that pair. Majborough looked a cut above the pair, unsurprisingly given he won the G1 Irish Arkle next time out, but I thought the run from Asian Master was an eye-catching one given he was strong at the nish, suggesting once more a step up in trip will bring further improvement.
Better was clearly expected when 13/8 in a similar contest next time out, but it was a strange race and I thought Tom Costello made his moon soon enough to match Westport Cove in front, before weakening just before the last. It was pleasing however, to see him get somewhat of a second wind halfway between the last and the line, and I’m sure that’s the last we’ll see of him over two miles.
Given his readjusted mark of 144 has come over inadequate trips, I think he could easily have 5-10lbs in hand once sent over this intermediate distance, for all we are factoring in the negatives, with all due respect, regarding the rider. I may be doing Costello a disservice there in truth, as I did think he gave him an excellent ride to beat Jimmy Du Seuil and again, he’s yet to be seen at his optimum trip.
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