The Broadway Novices’ Chase is run over an extended three miles on the Old Course at Cheltenham, where it is currently scheduled as the second race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, otherwise known as ‘Ladies Day’. The race has been run under various sponsored titles its history, most recently as the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, but for the best part of five decades was sponsored by the RSA Insurance Group and its predecessors.
Coincidentally, the 2020 renewal of the RSA Novices’ Chase, which was the last to be sponsored by the long-serving general insurance company, also produced one of the most memorable finishes of recent times. A total of 10 runners went to post, with the market headed by Allaho, trained by Willie Mullins, and Minella Indo, trained by Henry De Bromhead, who had finished third and first, respectively, in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival. Both had made a smooth transition to the larger obstacles, but Minella Indo was sent off marginal favourite at 5/2, with Allaho at 3/1, Champ, trained by Nicky Henderson, at 4/1 and 6/1 bar that trio.
The market leaders, who had been 1-2 throughout, looked to have the race between them from the second-last fence, and were 8½ lengths clear of their nearest pursuer, Champ. They continued to duel up the run-in, with Minella Indo, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, looking the more likely winner. Meanwhile, though, Champ, ridden by Barry Geraghty, in the famous green-and-gold colours of J.P. McManus, continued to make up ground hand-over-fist on the ailing leaders. In the last half a furlong or so, he swept between them to win by a length, going away. Minella Indo finished second, a similar distance ahead of Allaho, who was fully 22 lengths ahead of the fourth horse home.