* Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules.
There’s Grade One action this Saturday with the historic, Clarence House Chase. Some of the all-time greats can be found on the roll of honour for this prestigious race.
Un de Sceaux landed a hat-trick in 2018 and other greats who recently won include Altior and Sprinter Sacre. This year’s renewal promises to be a cracker with proven Grade One winners to the fore and PPTV presenter Graham Byrne was kind enough to assess the chances of some of the frontrunners for us.
Politologue
Reigning Champion Chaser Politologue heads the ante-post market at the time of writing. Paul Nicholls has been in superb form and has been mopping up the big Saturday races. Politologue caused a bit of a surprise at Cheltenham in the Queen Mother Champion Chase when putting a lacklustre Defi Du Seuil to the sword. But, John Hales’ popular 10-year-old proved that was no fluke by taking the Tingle Creek Chase on his seasonal reappearance.
But, 10-year-olds don’t have a great record in this race. Un de Sceaux was the last to achieve the feat and you need to go all the way back to 1989, when the legendary Desert Orchid gave Panto Prince 22lbs and a beating to find the last 10-year-old to win. The conditions of this race were very different back then. The form is rock solid but is age against Politologue?
Duc des Genievres
DUC DES GENIEVRES is the other interesting runner. He won the Arkle when trained by Willie Mullins in 2019. He has been disappointing since, but is now in the care of Paul Nicholls. As mentioned earlier, the Ditcheat handler has been taking all before him on Saturdays and it would be foolish to write any of his off, if anyone can rekindle this fella, Nicholls can.
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Waiting Patiently
Waiting Patiently could be the fly in the ointment. Owner Richard Collins has paid £5,000 to supplement Ruth Jefferson’s 10-year-old, and he has added further intrigue into what was already an excellent renewal. Waiting Patiently was last seen chasing home Frodon in the King George. He was doing all his best work late on under Brian Hughes, but the winning post came just in time for Frodon.
There will be huge question marks over the distance, although Waiting Patiently has previously won over this trip. He seems to be better over further these days, and it will be fascinating to see what tactics are employed with Waiting Patiently. Will he live up to his name, and play a waiting game out the back or will we see a more forceful ride?
First Flow
First Flow was the market mover last week, coming in from 14/1. Kim Bailey’s charge is on a big winning streak, winning five in-a-row. They have all been novice events or handicaps and he will need a career best and then some, if he is to take this. But, First Flow is the progressive dark horse in the field and must be respected with Kim Bailey having a tremendous season.
Selection:
Defi Du Seuil
Last year’s winner Defi Du Seuil looked to have the world at his feet when he impressively defeated Un de Sceaux under Barry Geraghty. But, the wheels have fallen off JP McManus’s eigh-year-old since. He was sent off the 2/5 favourite for the Queen Mother at Cheltenham, but could only trail in fourth after never travelling throughout the race.
There was further disappointment in the Shloer Chase last November, he was pulled up before the last when well beaten after he was sent off a 6/5 favourite. Punters have had their fingers burnt twice, but there could be a bit of value in his price if Philip Hobbs has managed to rejuvenate him.
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