Betfair Chase Guide 2021

The seven year old has been a superb horse during his career, really bouncing onto the scene in 2019 when taking the old Novices' Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham festival.

Two seasons he again put up another superb performance at Leopardstown over Christmas, when becoming one of the very few horses to beat Chacun Pour Soi in a Grade One.

He went to Cheltenham off the back of that run in the Ryanair and when punted to run a big race, could only finish third behind Min.

Last term, he made his seasonal debut in the two mile Grade 2 Fortria Chase at Navan, where he was narrowly beaten by Castlegrace Paddy.

It was obvious that two miles was not his trip and De Bromhead last time out sent him over three miles for the first time in his career and didn't half suit him.

In the Grade 1 Savills Chase he came from a long way back off the pace to snatch victory at Leopardstown.

He headed into the Gold Cup with a huge chance and in the end ran a valiant race in second just being seen off by stablemate Minella Indo who outstayed him on the day.

The gelding returns for his seasonal debut in this event and is said to be in top shape at home.

Bristol De Mai treats the Betfair Chase as his Gold Cup every year, with the ground usually heavy and he thrives in those conditions, jumping the fences well and staying out the trip better than most.

Having won three of the last four renewals he is always to be feared in this event, but with the ground not coming for him he might find some too good.

He was seen three times last term, beating Clan Des Obeaux on seasonal debut in this event before then going to Sandown where he finished second to Native River by close to 10 lengths.

Aimed at the Grand National for his big season target, he was unfortunately pulled up with his weight just being too much to compete with the leaders.

He can never be ruled out in this event having a superb record fresh, but it looks his toughest test.

The previous stable star for Ruth Jefferson who is now in Wales with Christian Williams, who looks to get the spark back in this horse.

He hasn’t won since February 2018, only having seven runs since then so fairly lightly raced, but he put in some nice performances last year in good races.

He ran a quality 2nd place finish in last years King George at Kempton, only beaten by Frodon by 2 and a quarter lengths, after settling at the back and cruising into the race, looking back to his best, but just couldn’t get passed the game Frodon that day.

He also finished 3rd in the Clarence House at Ascot in January, missing the festival at Cheltenham to then disappoint and pull up in the Bowl Chase at Aintree.

He is a hard horse to gauge, as he runs a big race when not expected to, If the change of scenery has brought the spark back into him, we could finally see him get his second Grade 1.

Does clearly have talent but might have lost his way and disappointed in his last run in April at Aintree, If the change of yard has done anything he cannot be discounted lightly.

The only Paul Nicholls runner in the race with Harry Cobden onboard, he is somewhat of an unknow quantity over fences in the contest this year.

He was a novice Chaser last season, winning two of his first three starts over the larger obstacles, including a Grade 2 at Warwick beating recent Listed winner Fiddlerontheroof, then finished 2nd behind the talented Galvin at the festival at Cheltenham in March when stepping up in trip even further to 3m5f.

He looks to have bags of talent over fences and the trip will suit him for this race, but with the lack of experience compared to some of these over fences and no Grade 1 victory to his name over fences compared to a few of the other runners, he could be vulnerable in this top-class company.

However, we have learnt over the years not to doubt Paul Nicholls when it comes to getting horses ready.

Lack of experience compared to some of these over obstacles, but is talented and unexposed over fences, one to keep an eye on.

Kim Bailey’s charge looked like a top-class chaser in the making in the early stages of last season, winning his first two starts at Carlisle and Ascot, before slightly disappointing when pulling up at Cheltenham in the Ryanair Chase after being fancied to win his first career Grade 1.

He won the Grade 2 1965 Pharma Chase at Ascot last season (Which is on the same day as the Betfair Chase) so it is interesting connections have gone for this instead, which could count for something.

But he has to step up considerably to win this race against some of the best chasers in the game, plus the step up in trip to 3m might not suit (Although he has won at the trip, that was in a beginner’s chase) When tested against decent opposition at this trip he was well beaten and didn’t particularly look like a stayer.

Looked good as a chaser in the early stages of last season, needs to recuperate his form over a further trip to win this but the trainer knows how to get them ready.

One of the improving chasers of last season for Venetia Williams, who won three races on the spin before tackling the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March at the festival where he finished a very good 6th, although beaten a long way

As previously mentioned, he was a big improver before that, winning three in a row including a Grade 2 win over course and distance in January, absolutely demolishing the field by 16 lengths after a top jumping display, looking like a real Grade 1 horse in the making bursting onto the scene.

The course form is a big plus, as he also won a Class 2 chase at Haydock in December last year. Haydock is clearly a course that suits the horse's running style.

He is an exciting young horse (7yo) who I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on in this and the season ahead.

He is unknown in this sphere so a very interesting runner to watch, and the yard clearly thinks a lot of him due to putting him in this race for his first start of the season.

Certainly in with a chance against some good opposition today with course form.

The biggest priced runner in the race is the Tom George trained Clondaw Castle.

He is probably the most experienced chaser in the race (16 runs with 5 wins) including a Grade 3 win at Kempton in January.

He again needs to step up form wise to beat these Grade 1 Chasers, but again has had a run this season already finishing a remote 3rd in the Charlie Hall 3 weeks ago.

Experienced chaser, but again needs to step up form wise to take this, one to just probably watch.

The second Irish raider in the race, who is considerably lower rated than the main protagonists in the race.

He was a decent winner at Cheltenham last December in a Grade 3 but has ran a few times since this and only won once (In a Grade 3, form isn’t too good in behind) He has already had a run this season so has the race fitness edge compared to most of these, so that plays in his favour but needs to step up considerably to win this on performances and ratings.

One of the outsiders of the race, who is much lower rated than most of the other runners, probably needs to step up quite a bit to win this but can spring a surprise win like he did at Cheltenham last season.