.png)
Pulse Racing
Brown Advisory
Detailed race analysis for The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
* note all data is from 2016 unless otherwise stated.
RACE SUMMARY
First run in 1946, the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is the Grade 1 championship chase for novice staying chasers at the Cheltenham Festival.
Originally known as the National Hunt Challenge Cup, it has carried several sponsor names and has been sponsored by Brown Advisory since 2021 (many know it as the RSA).
Run on the Old Course over approximately 3 miles 1f, it is open to novice chasers aged five and older.
The race features 21 fences and is a searching test of jumping, stamina and tactical speed.
WINNING PROFILE
AVERAGE AGE
7.1
156
AVERAGE OFFICIAL RATING
AVERAGE CHASE RUNS PRIOR
3.1
PATH TO CHELTENHAM
The following races have produced the most Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase winners since 2016:
-
(4) Dipper Novices’ Chase (Cheltenham, January)
-
(3) Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Kempton, December)
-
(2) Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Sandown. February)
-
(2) Flogas Novice Chase / Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Leopardstown, February)
Number of horses that ran in these races and went on to win at Cheltenham that season in brackets.
TRAINER WINS
TRAINER S/R
WINS BY AGE
PULSE STOPPER
Every winner was officially rated 150+. Those less than OR 150 are 0/45 | 0%
Headgear is a negative for these Novice Chasers with a record of 0/16 | 0%
Those nearer the top of the market have historically performed better with those 12/1+ 1/53 | 1.9%
PULSE INSIGHT
There is no real dominance from Irish-trained or British-trained in the Brown Advisory with Irish-trained 6/56 | 10.7% and British-trained 5/48 | 10.4%.
Highly rated novices have a strong record, with those officially rated 155+ 5/22 | 22.7%, though note this would return a loss of £7.50 to £1 level stakes.
All 11 winners had ran in a Graded race that same season with 8 winning. Runners that had not run in a Grade race are 0/20 | 0%.
Three of the top prep races are in Britain with the key races the Dipper at Cheltenham and the Kauto Star at Kempton.
As per Pulse Stopper, 150+ rated horses have won 11/11. Last time out winners are 7/11. When combining both they are 7/35 | 20.0%.
Horses at 8/1 or shorter: 9/41 | 22.0%.
PULSE EDGE
PULSE SUMMARY
Graded Form is Key
All 11 winners since 2016 have ran in a Graded race in that season with 8 winning, with the Dipper (4) and Kauto Star (3) featuring heavily.
Again all 11 winners were highly rated at 150+, showing the class angle required for this top Novices' race.
Mullins is the winning-most Trainer with 4/11 (36.4%) though has done so from a total of 26 runners, hence the strike rate of 15.4%
PULSE VERDICT
Pulse Rate
Follow the prep races, notably the Dipper and Kauto Star in the UK and the Flogas at Leopardstown in February
Pulse Stopper
OR <150 0/45 | 0%
Pulse Insight
Won a G1/G2/G3 chase | 8/11 from 53 runners | 15.1%
Pulse Edge
OR 150+ 11/11 | 100% Last time out winners 7/11. from a combined total of 35 runners 7/35 | 20.0%
ALL DATA FROM 2016 UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED
LAST UPDATED SEPT 2026