Classic Chase 2018

Love this race, but record in it isn’t great, so very happy to hold fire until final decs. Can’t remember the last time a race like this looked so murky at this stage.

https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/85/warwick/2018-01-13/691056

On first glance, Ptit Zig, and Caroles Destrier look to have enough on their plate, in a slog like this, but at the same time, they would be miles better than the rest of these. Nicholls is no stranger to landing this, and though it looks a strange entry for Ptit Zig, the 20’s still looks a fair price, for a horse who not too long ago, was chasing Vautour home. To be fair, not that much has went right for him since, but he’ll handle the ground alright, and if I was to have an early go, he’d be high on the shortlist to place at that price. Yes, his jumping can be an issue, but thought he shaped ok last time, and he’s a very interesting entry. Caroles Destrier chased home Native River last term at Chepstow, and that’s very decent form. He must have a fair chance off of 149, based on that run, but I just wonder if his whole campaign is geared around Aintree. Shortlist material nonetheless.

There’s obviously a realistic chance that Ptit Zig might not take up this option, but crucially, if Caroles Destrier stands his ground, then he’ll keep the weight down for his stablemate, Kansas City Chief. He does have a question mark over this trip, he’s very inconsistent, and he was a bit flat at Wincanton last time, but he does have a few runs in the past that would bring him in to this, not least his very impressive win at Punchestown, in a decent enough handicap, just over a year ago. It can be a bit lazy just to assume that being owned by Tony Bloom, he’ll be a plot horse for something or other, but there’s no getting away that he was an interesting purchase for him, and off of his current mark, it looks as if he could work him in some where. He looks worthy of a second look here, and he’s the one I was most tempted with at 16’s.

Plenty of question marks then for him, despite my interest, and a more straightforward one for the shortlist is Cogry. He still looks on a fair mark for his ability, and considering that win at Cheltenham in November, this looks perfect. Seems to have got his jumping together, and the trip will pose little problems. No shame in coming up short at Newbury, and the 10’s looks very fair to me.

I’ll wait and see what Kerry Lee declares here, no surprise if all of hers head here, and she just has to be respected, while Mysteree, and particularly Emperors Choice, are both interesting, having not done a full shift at Chepstow. This is the perfect race for Emperors, and he should be bang there if none the worse for his his fall, while a change of tactics might see Mysteree in a better light.

A real dark horse could be Indian Castle, who I thought ran a cracker behind What A Moment at Cheltenham, and his run at the track before that wasn’t too shabby either, and he’s clearly came back from his extended layoff in good heart, and for a trainer who’s having a great time of it this season, he must have a sporting chance here, and he certainly looks very very well treated. 16’s looks a great price.

Another trainer who’s had a fine time of it this year is Anthony Honeyball, and the last two runs of Cresswell Breeze suggest that there’s a decent chance that that form could continue here.

They’re the ones that catch my eye at this stage, and I’m definitely waiting, though if pushed, then at the prices, I would side with……….

Ptit Zig Ew 20’s
Cogry Win 10’s
Kansas City Chief Ew 14’s
Indian Castle Win 16’s

The prices of Ptiz Zig & Indian Castle look very tempting, but just not tempting enough right now.

GL