Classic Chase 2017

Not got a great record in this, but happy to give it a go once again.

The 2 horses I wanted to see in the line up are both there, the Alan King duo, Sego Success & Midnight Prayer. Sego Success is a horse I’ve always liked, and I’m surprised he seen out last season without a big win to his name. He took this race in last time, but was a very early casualty, and after then he’s been just a shade disappointing. He’s down a few pounds though, and for a race that is clearly targetted by the trainer, then he is worth considering. His entry for The Lotto Chase at Aintree didn’t go unnoticed though, and he must still be in decent nick at home for them to have considered that. Having been widely touted for The Welsh National last season, Midnight Prayer, not for the first time considering his frailties, missed that gig, due to a coughing bout. He also took this in year, and though he looked “on paper”, the stable second string, I took the view that this just might have been the plan for him all along, and he went agonisingly close, with a last fence blunder possibly costing him victory. He’ll probably be regarded as “second string” again, but he’s due to fire soon, and despite the more obvious claims of his stablemate, I think that this Cheltenham Festival winner will get involved.

Russe Blanc, who beat Midnight Prayer, is in there again, and he’s part of a bumper entry from Kerry Lee. She has another 4 in there, in the shape of Alfie Spinner, Goodtoknow, Bishops Road, and Mountainous. They all have their claims, and Lee showed last season that she was a “dab hand” at these big chases, and with Russe Blanc, Mountainous, and Bishops Road all playing a part for her, their bound to be popular in the lead up this week. It’s her veteran, though, Alfie Spinner, who appeals to me the most. He appealed to me for The Welsh National, and and I said this about him…..He’s nearing 12, and he’s thoroughly exposed, but I just wonder if she can coax one more big run from the old boy. She managed to win with him at Ffos Las last year, having got him from Nick Williams, and with him still being relatively low in the weights, he makes some each way appeal at 40’s. 40’s would be nice for him here, but with no market formed, I’d be just as happy with 25’s. I’m expecting a price for him, and I’m willing to take a chance that he makes the frame.

One I’d like to see go one better than just making the frame, is the David Pipe trained Doctor Harper. I’m still recovering from my old pal Tour Des Bloody Champs mugging him at Cheltenham on New Years Day, and I’m hoping he’s on a recovery mission here. What that run at Cheltenham did prove that he has stamina to play with, as there were doubts around this beforehand, and having previously looked like a Festival “Plot Horse”, I really do feel that Aintree might just be on the agenda for him. Travelled like a dream on his seasonal debut at Cheltenham, and having looked as if he weakened away, it has since transpired that he lost a couple of shoes. He’s a horse to keep a note of, and he’ll have to win this to make Aintree, so if this doesn’t come too soon, I’d expect him to go very close. I won’t be betting him, as I’ve got him at big prices for The National, and they might just pull him to wait for a run later in the month, but he’d be a very strong fancy should he line up.

Paul Nicholls has landed this before, but I’m not convinced by Vivaldi Collonges, and I’ll take it on the chin should he do a “Hawkes Point” and pull a win from nowhere. A win for Virak would be harder to take, as I’ve bet him many times. He was woeful last time, but he’s finally getting some respite from the handicapper, and as he’s otherwise dependable, he very much would be my preference of the Nicholls pair.

Venetia Williams is another trainer to have tasted success in this, and I’ve said so much about Houblon Des Obeaux & Rigadin De Beauchene over the years, that this time around I can just safely say……..write the pair of them off at your peril. Houblon would be the obvious one, after his big run at Chepstow where he did me proud, but he does tend to follow a good run with a stinker, but if this doesn’t come too soon, then he could easily do some damage here off a lb lower. I’m a wee bit surprised he got lowered for that, and that could be crucial to his chances here. A case could be made for Rigadin maybe being on the downgrade, and he was a faller in this last year, but he’s won this before, and having been very busy over the last few seasons, he’s been seen sparingly since his mishap here last term. I thought he travelled very well in his last run, and if he retains enough ability, then he looks well treated. I’d be very surprised if one of this pair didn’t make a bold bid.

Despite winning The Lavazza Silver Cup last time, I’d be a shade surprised if Regal Encore popped up here again, and with him being another who’s possibly Aintree bound, then they might just be on a mission to get him down a couple of pounds now.

One for Arthur ran well in The Becher, and that was off the back of a solid win before. Lucinda Russell has had some joy sending her runners for this type of prize, and should he make the long trip south then he’s worth considering, as is Viva Steve, who like Arthur, appears to be going the right way, and his win last time looked good enough to make a challenge here. Also coming off the back the back of a good win is Morney Wing, who won The Sussex National last time out. That was a proper slog, and he certainly showed the qualities required to win this, however that was only last week, and could this come too soon?

Would it surprise anyone to see Colin Tizzard land yet another big prize? He’s certainly on fire, but I think the overall form of Sartorial Elegance would see him come up short here, as much as I’d be wary of anything from the yard.

Shotgun Paddy has ran well in this before, making the frame in 2015, to go along with his win it, 3 years back. If you ignore his run in The Midlands National, then he’s been running fairly consistently, and I think he has the look of a horse who is about to finally get his head in front again.

I haven’t fully written off Ballyculla for a prize like this, while should the much travelled Bless The Wings make the trip for Gordon Elliot, then he would obviously come into contention. I’d be wary of him Ante-Post though, as there must be a chance he won’t make the line up.

That’s the pick of the entries, but there’s plenty more in there, with 34 entered in total.

Doctor Harper makes most appeal to me, and he’s potentially the best horse in the race, while I’d be very interested in the Alan King & Venetia Williams pair, with preference for maybe, just maybe, Midnight Prayer and Rigadin De Beauchene. I’m just no sure how to play this, and the only one I can say for certain I’ll bet at this stage, is Alfie Spinner each way, should he be a price.

I’ll know more once the market forms.

GL