Tag: betfair chase

Ptit Zig fancied for Betfair Ascot Chase

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One of the most exciting prospects for the Cheltenham festival in March is the Paul Nicholls-trained Ptit Zig who is unbeaten in four starts over fences. He is set to line up in Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase after stable companion Al Ferof was ruled out through injury.

The sponsors put up Balder Succes as the 9-4 favourite on Tuesday with Ptit Zig at 11-4 but I don’t think that price will last long. Ptit Zig was long odds-on at Exeter and Warwick in November and won both races without any fuss. He was then upped in class to a Grade 2 at Ascot and dished out a nine-lengths beating to the odds-on Josses Hill.

The runner-up was surprisingly beaten last week in his Cheltenham prep but remains a serious chasing prospect. It was the superior speed on the flat which was particularly impressive about the winner, quickening clear after the last. Traffic Flude finished almost 30 lengths behind Ptit Zig but won readily at Plumpton on Monday.

Nicholls sent the son of Great Pretender to Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and he put Champagne West by six lengths. As at Ascot, Ptit Zig showed a good turn of foot from the last and his most likely target is the JLT Novices’ Chase at the festival.

Alan King’s Balder Succes was thought to be a likely contender for the Champion Chase at the start of the season but he suffered defeats on his first three starts. He was slightly disappointing when only fourth to Dodging Bullets in the Tingle Creek Chase in December. He was then beaten by Special Tiara at Kempton but bounced back to win on the same course in January.

Champagne Fever was a high class hurdler but has proved a little erratic over fences. He came close to winning the Arkle last season when just beaten on the nod by Western Warhorse. His only victory since was at Clonmel in November. He did not seem to get home when fourth to Silviniaco Conti at Kempton in the King George VI Chase and fell at Thurles last time. He looked beaten at the time with Don Cossack going on to win well.

Ma Filleule looked a very exciting prospect when winning at Aintree in April and shaped well when only a length and a half behind Sam Winner at the same course in December. The grey still holds a Gold Cup entry and may find one or two of these too quick here.

Ptit Zig 3.50 Ascot @11-4 Betfair

Haydock Saturday Preview

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The Betfair Chase at Haydock is the highlight of Saturday’s National Hunt action. Last year it was won by Cue Card who defeated Dynaste and Silviniaco Conti. All three are back again this year via very different routes.

Cue Card looked like winning the King George before being outstayed by Silviniaco Conti. Dynaste ran poorly but returned to win the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival. The picture is further confused by the recent Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in which Menorah beat Taquin Du Seuil with Silviniaco Conti fading into fifth place. I am just going to side with David Pipe’s Dynaste who clearly wasn’t right at Kempton last year and could yet make a Gold Cup horse.

The New One should not have much difficulty in winning the 1.50 and taking another step towards the Champion Hurdle. I was impressed with Aurore D’Estruval at Wetherby and she could run well for John Quinn but it will be a major shock if anything can trouble the favourite.

The Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle has attracted a really strong field headed by Volnay De Thaix. Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old carries 12 stone including a 5lbs penalty for his recent win at Huntingdon. He absolutely bolted up that day and is going to be difficult to beat.

Katkeau also carries a penalty for beating Big Easy at Cheltenham. The runner-up looked like providing yet another winner for the in-form Philip Hobbs stable and should run another big race here. I also have a sneaking fancy for the Irish horse Dara Tango who recently won on the flat at Catterick. He was awarded the race after being hampered close home by Jolie Blonde and that should have put him spot on for his return to hurdling.

The 1.15 is an equally competitive race with Morito Du Berlais going for a hat-trick for Paul Nicholls. He was always travelling comfortably behind the leaders that day and did well to quicken up after a sticky jump at the final flight.

The big danger here is the Evan Williams-trained On Tour. It isn’t often you see the jockey taking a pull at the last in a two and a half mile handicap hurdle but Paul Moloney had to fight to hold on to On Tour at Stratford. He needed to shake him up when challenged on his outside by Go West Young Man. The handicapper has put him up 9lbs but that may not be enough to stop him.

On Tour 1.15 @5-1 Coral

Volnay De Thaix 2.25 @9-2 Stan James

Dara Tango 2.25 @14-1 Bet Victor (each-way)

Dynaste 3.00 @9-2 Paddy Power

Racing Preview 23rd November

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The eight runners have stood their ground for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday and it promises to be a cracker. There has been virtually no change in the market other than for Bobs Worth to ease out to a top price of 11-4.

Earlier in the week I recommended Silviniaco Conti and Dynaste against the favourite. All three are having their first outing of the new season so it is difficult to be too confident. The Gold Cup market is certainly in for a shake up on Saturday night.

Lie Forrit’s price in the Fixed Brush Hurdle has tumbled from 14-1 to 9-1 and I’m hopeful of a good run. It’s a tricky race with Gullinbursti reverting to hurdles after winning by 27 lengths over fences and a number of other fancied runners.

Far West was beaten by Melodic Rendezvous on his comeback race a couple of weeks ago but should strip fitter at Haydock tomorrow. He holds Rolling Star on their previous clash in the Triumph Hurdle and should give Nick Scholfield another high-profile winner in his new roles as stable number 2 jockey to Paul Nicholls.

Home Run was a 40-1 shot when triggering a four-timer for David Pipe last Sunday and turns out again quickly off bottom weight. Kieron Edgar again claims 7lbs off his back and he looks weighted to go close in a competitive race.

Ascot’s card has cut up badly and there are only seven runners in total for the two feature races. Whether this is the timing of the meeting I am not sure but I would have thought the sponsors will be less than pleased.

With betting opportunities somewhat limited, I’m going to keep faith with another Nicholls runner in Zarkandar for the Coral Hurdle. Annie Power is coming over from Ireland with a huge reputation but she’s never met anything of Zarkandar’s class and 7-4 looks too good to refuse.

Far West 12.45 Haydock 5-4 Bet365

Home Run 1.50 Haydock 6-1 BetVictor

Lie Forrit 2.25 Haydock *14-1 Ante-post

Silviniaco Conti 3.00 Haydock *5-2 Ante-post

Dynaste 3.00 Haydock *7-1 Ante-post

Zarkandar 2.40 Ascot 7-4 Coral

Betfair Chase Preview

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Cheltenham’s Open meeting ended in frustration with Sametegal just touched off in the Greatwood Hurdle on Sunday. That was a terrific run under a big weight and he will surely pick up a decent prize before too long.

If that meeting has blown away the cobwebs for National Hunt fans, they can now look forward to the return of the Gold Cup winner in Haydock’s Betfair Chase on Saturday. This race has been dominated by Paul Nicholls, largely with the help of a certain Kauto Star but also with Silviniaco Conti winning last year.

Not everyone was convinced by Silviniaco Conti, even though he hardly put a foot wrong on his way through to the festival. His unfortunate tumble at the third last left a load of unanswered questions and we could get some answers this weekend. It certainly appeared as though he was travelling as well as anything at the time but it was too far out to make a confident judgement. Nicholls admitted to being gutted whilst Ruby Walsh was his usual unflappable self and refused to be drawn on whether or not he’d have won.

With Walsh now enjoying a rich harvest for Willie Mullins in Ireland and Daryl Jacob riding at Ascot, it falls to Noel Fehily to partner the gelding on Saturday. The trainer has stressed that it is only logical that Jacob rides Zarkandar and Al Ferof and points out that Fehily has ridden the horse to victory earlier in his career.

Bobs Worth only appeared twice last season, winning the Hennessy Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. For those of us who are old enough to remember, it revives memories of Henderson’s training of See You Then prior to his Champion Hurdle victories. We won’t be seeing much more of Bobs Worth this season but it seems safe to assume he will be fit enough.

Looking beyond the big two, you have to respect Dynaste after David Pipe’s Sunday four-timer. His horses seemed to keep finding extra, reminiscent of Pipe senior in his glory days. This is a cracking race as I see Silviniaco Conti and Dynaste as the two horses most likely to give Bobs Worth a run for his money at Cheltenham in March.

Tidal Bay is an intriguing runner after his fine win over hurdles at Wetherby but will need everything to go right to win this. Long Run is best watched after his poor run first time out whilst I am still not convinced that Cue Card will stay this trip. I think 11-4 is a fair price for Silviniaco Conti and 7-1 is too big for Dynaste with Pipe in flying form so I’ll take those two against the field.

Silviniaco Conti 11-4 BetVictor

Dynaste 7-1 Coral