Andrew Newton
Betfair Ascot Chase Betting Guide
15/02/2013
Betfair Ascot Chase Betting Guide
(Saturday 3.50 Live ATR/C4)
Only six runners heading to post for this Grade One Chase, but what the race lacks in quantity it certainly make up for in quality.
Last season’s Champion Chaser, Finian’s Rainbow, will be out to redeem his reputation after a poor showing here last time back in November. However, the heavy ground was probably to blame that day and if you can forgive that effort then being rated 173 (the highest in the race), then he’s certainly the one to beat. Connections will also know a lot more about his Cheltenham Festival target after this as - they are toying with the options of defending his Champion Chase title or going for the Ryanair, run over a longer trip.
It will be a tough call, as we all like to see past champions coming back to defend their titles, but with the Henderson team also having Sprinter Sacre in the QM Champion Chase then they could opt for the Ryanair – a race the yard landed 12 months ago with Riverside Theatre.
Back to this race and the other big names heading to Ascot on Saturday will be the King George runner-up, Captain Chris, the consistent Somersby, and Cue Card, who was last seen not quite getting home in the King George on Boxing Day.
Captain Chris comes into the race as the second-highest rated (169) and was a very impressive winner here back in November. He certainly won’t lack for stamina should the race turn into a slog, and having winning form in all ground types then he rates a very solid option for the Hobbs team.
Somersby was last seen running 16 lengths behind Sprinter Sacre in the Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham, but he does seem to like it here at Ascot. His recent runs here read 2-2-1, with the latest of those a beating of Finian’s Rainbow in last season’s VC Chase – at around 9/2 in the betting he’s sure to have his supporters.
Cue Card will be more at home over this shorter trip, after not quite getting the 3m of the King George last time, and the way he won at Exeter two runs back makes him a big player here. Those against him might notice that he’s never run at Ascot before – not a huge negative, but still worth noting. He jumps well and at just 7 years-old should still have more improvement in him.
The Paul Nicholls team took this back in 2008 with a certain Kauto Star and they pin their hopes on Ghizao this time. He’s certainly no Kauto, and although a decent horse, for me, is not quite top class and with around 18lbs to find on the ratings with Finian’s Rainbow then he’ll need to put in a career-best effort if he’s to take this.
In summary – Cue Card and Captain Chris are very much respected, but I’ll take a chance on Finian’s Rainbow bouncing back to form. The Henderson team have won the last two renewals of this race and are sure to have him spot on for what will be a fact-finding Cheltenham mission for the Seven Barrows yard.
BEST BET: FINIAN’S RAINBOW
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