With confirmations now in for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, the market for the three-mile Grade 1 is beginning to take clearer shape and several interesting contenders are emerging as punters weigh up the likely runners.

At the head of the betting is Final Demand, currently priced around 100-30 with Paddy Power. The Willie Mullins-trained runner has been strongly supported in recent weeks and remains one of the most talked-about horses in the race. Close behind in the market is The Big Westerner, available at around 4-1, and another horse who has attracted plenty of interest from both bettors and analysts.

Further down the list, Gavin Cromwell’s Now Is The Hour has entered the picture after being added to the betting at around 16-1 following his supplementary entry. The Cromwell yard has enjoyed plenty of success with staying chasers in recent seasons, and the decision to supplement suggests connections feel he deserves his chance in a race of this calibre.

Paul Binfield of Paddy Power noted that betting activity in the Brown Advisory has been fairly balanced overall, although a few runners have begun to attract particular attention from punters.

He said:
“We’ve seen a fairly even spread of bets in the Brown Advisory recently, but Predators Gold, still available at around 25-1, has been the most popular with our customers over the last 24 hours, while we’ve added Now Is The Hour into the market at 16-1.”

Binfield also pointed to the regard in which Now Is The Hour has always been held by connections.

“Connections have always treated him like a good horse. He lined up in both last year’s National Hunt Chase and the Irish National, although he failed to complete in either contest. However, his most recent run, where he prevented Better Times Ahead from completing a hat-trick in the Thyestes Chase, was a very solid performance and shows he has the ability to compete at this level.”

The Brown Advisory has traditionally been one of the most informative novice chases at the Cheltenham Festival, often highlighting future Gold Cup contenders. With several improving staying chasers likely to line up this year, the race looks set to be another competitive renewal.

As always at Cheltenham, the market will continue to evolve in the days leading up to the race as punters study the form, trainer intentions and ground conditions.