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Eight stood their ground at the five day stage for the Victor Chandler Chase over 2m1f at Ascot on Sunday. The Market is headed by Finian’s Rainbow, trained by Nicky Henderson. His price ranges from 13/8 to a best priced 15/8 with Sportingbet.
This likeable 9 year old is as short as 4/1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in eight weeks time. Hold fire on those ante post slips though, as he has also received a somewhat surprise entry for the Gold Cup two days later.
We know this horse has pace as he finished a satisfactory second to Captain Chris in last season’s Arkle. We also know he is prone to some jumping errors, notably displayed when overcoming a frightful blunder four from home to just deny the reopposing Wishful Thinking over the Christmas period. If these flaws have been ironed out, he is a worthy favourite. The master of Seven Barrows will be keen to win this race for the fourth time.
In recent years, it has been tradition for Champion trainer Paul Nicholls to have a fairly low key January. That hasn’t, however hindered him from mopping up this event – four wins in thirteen years, no less. Masterminded has been responsible for two of those victories, but is sadly sidelined with a career threatening injury. The Ditchest handler does have an able deputy in the shape of last season’s Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, Al Ferof.
The likeable grey has made the perfect start to his new discipline, having ran and won twice. Albeit he was less impressive on the second occasion, but still rates a vastly improving horse with the right attitude. Nicholls has never hidden the regard with which he holds the John Hales’ owned gelding. With the race on Saturday guaranteed to be run at a fast pace, this can play into pilot Ruby Walsh’s hands and he rates a confident selection to etch a new name on the trophy for the Somerset handler. 11/4 is readily available with several leading firms.
Al Ferof - fancied for Saturday's Victor Chandler Chase
Wishful Thinking takes his chance here with trainer Phillip Hobbs seeking a first win in the event. Many people will see his price – 13/2 with Ladbrokes, as being value for a 3/4 length second to favourite Finian’s Rainbow last time out. The howler the latter named made on that occasion can ultimately be blamed for the proximity to which Richard Johnston’s mount got to the winner that day. It’s difficult to see the form being reversed. That said, Hobbs has his string in fine order and rates a definite place contender.
Another West Country handler who’s yard is in good form is Nick Williams. He runs Gauvain in a bid to win another big Saturday pot after Swincombe Flame’s gritty victory in the Lanzarote hurdle last weekend. The Jared Sullivan owned 10 year old brings some strong form to the table, most notably on his most recent outing when taking the scalp of Somersby in the Peterborough Chase in December. Should the dead eight remain, Gauvain rates a strong each way contender, with 8/1 looking value. Ignore this horse at your peril.
The mover of the week has been the Hen Knight trained Somersby, with Ladbrokes reporting plenty of each way support for the eight year old – now 5/1 from an opening show of 7/1. On the plus side, there is no superstar in the lineup this year and a repetition of his run in this event twelve months ago will see him go close. On that occasion he ran Masterminded to a shorthead and had heavy punters urging for the loo in the process. I must admit, he’s not for me but there is still plenty of 6/1 on offer.
Irish Hope
Of the remainder, sole Irish challenger and forcast player’s dream Forpadydeplasterer takes his chance. Tom Cooper’s charge has been second eight times since Barry Geraghty carried him over the line to win the 2009 Arkle. Now a ten year old, his best days may be behind him and has it all to do here. I’d love to be proved wrong though, for his mad bunch of owners The Goat Syndicate.
Oiseau de nuit is out of his depth in this company, but can give a good stab at defending his Grand Annual chase crown at the Festival. Finally, it would be a surprise if David Pipe’s I’m So Lucky could better his 37 length sixth behind Masterminded in this race last year.
I am an all round sports enthusiast, but my passion rests with Horseracing. In particular, National Hunt, which is very fortunate as the season is just getting into full swing.
My love for the sport stems from when I was a young lad, regularly in attendance at my local racecourse, Downpatrick. A decade later and my thirst for knowledge of the sport of Kings is as rife now as it was then. I recently got accepted onto the BHA Graduate Programme, and for two months was stationed at Newton Abbot Racecourse and absolutely loved it! I’m really looking forward to writing about racing, and as I’m fond of a flutter, hopefully steer you in the direction of one or two winners.
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