New race for novice chasers at Cheltenham

OFFICIALS at Cheltenham have announced the introduction of the new Jewson Novices’ Chase at next year’s Festival.

The two-and-a-half-mile Grade Two will be run as the first race on day three of the meeting and gives leading novice chasers an additional middle-distance opportunity between the two-mile Arkle Trophy and the extended three-mile RSA Chase.

Jewson previously sponsored a novices’ handicap chase that was run in the same Thursday slot, but that will now be moved to the opening day on Tuesday and be run as the Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase.