Rehearsal Chase 2018

Usual strong entry for this one….

https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/ante-post-racing/national-hunt/betvictor-rehearsal-handicap-chase/winner

First off the bat is that Allysson Monterg, American, Ms Parfois, and Otago Trail all hold entries for The Ladbrokes Trophy. It seems easy to assume that Newbury will be priority, but you never know, and this, in theory, easier target, might just appeal. I’d certainly be surprised if Ms Parfois headed here, but these things just aren’t guaranteed. I’m a big fan of Otago Trail, and if he had a run on the board, I’d be very keen. He won this two years ago, but then met with a setback which has kept him off the track for two years. He’ll still be of interest should he appear here, but I do think he’s perfect for Chepstow.

That quartet aren’t the only ones with other targets, and market leader Willoughby Court, along with Ami Desbois, Beau Sancy, Captain Chaos, Rocklander, Solighoster, Sumkindofking, Testify, and The Dutchman, all have a variety of targets this week and into next.

Of those, I think The Dutchman could be very interesting wherever he reappears, while Sumkindofkings 4lb rise for chasing Present Man home in The Badger Ales, isn’t prohibitive. He’d be shortlist material if I knew this was the plan.

Very difficult then to take a hard view on this, with so many question marks over the others, but several, who have this as they’re only entry, are jumping out.

Ballydine – Battling win when last seen at Sandown, and hardly been punished for it. I like the trainers runners at this level, and he’s nicely treated.

Bishops Road – Same ownership as Ballydine, and a regular in this, including when runner up in this last year. He was operating off an insane mark for a while, but he’s down 19lbs in the best part of two years, and will be 9lbs lower than last year. Softer the better for him, and though he needs to brush up the jumping, if he came out of his run at Haydock on Saturday, he has to be given a second look.

Baywing – Smashing horse, and likes it round here, as seen when landing The Eider. Up a few lbs for that obviously, but he ran ok off the new mark at Kelso next time. I don’t know if Aintree is on the menu for him, but he looks the type, so he wouldn’t want to be winning this, if that was the case. There’s just the chance though that this might be the plan, and he merits serious respect.

Big River – Very smart horse, who although prone to the odd stinker, and not a veteran of tough handicaps like this, looks the type who could progress this year, and his mark looks fair. A repeat of his performance in The Ivan Straker Menorial, would put him right there.

Ramses De Teille – This will be his second run after a wind op, and last time, in The Badger Ales, he found a second wind after appearing to empty. He has to do more, but Wincanton was encouraging.

Lake View Lad – Would appear to lack the class of some of these, but rarely runs a bad one, and likes it here, and won at the meeting last term. Interesting that he’s only 10’s, and he looks one of the safer Antepost propositions.

Sharp Response – Very, very impressive at Carlisle last month, and though comfortably held at Cheltenham last week, he travelled very well for a long way. Must be a good chance he’ll trap here, and he’s still a promising sort, and he’s been dropped a couple of pounds.

Templehills – Unpredictable sort, but his runs this year in The Old Roan, and also at Uttoxeter, would suggest he has a squeak here. Potentially a shade high in the weights, but of obvious interest, considering he’s the only representative here for Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Acdc – Flopped last time, but previous runs at Wetherby and Ayr were very encouraging. Both those runs would be his standouts for me, but he was generally consistent last winter anyway, so no surprise that he’s as low as 12’s, and he surely heads here.

An absolute minefield then, and I ain’t touching it.

If pushed, I’d have Sumkindofking as my #1, but Otago Trail is a very underrated horse I reckon, while Bishops Road could be chucked in.

Sharp Response, Ramses De Teille, and Big River could have plenty more to offer too, but with so many ifs and buts, it’s one for final decs.