Cheltenham Festival 2012 - RSA Chase

Cheltenham Festival (Day 2, Race 3)

RSA Chase (2.40)

Advice: 1 pt win Bobs Worth (9/2 general), 1 pt Bobs Worth to beat First Lieutenant (13/8 Stan James)

Bobs Worth: Undisputed top staying novice hurdler of last season, following up impressive Grade 2 win at Cheltenham with Festival success in Albert Bartlett; Made perfect debut over fences when getting there in nick of time to deny Cue Card over inadequate 2m4f at Newbury, albeit getting 7lbs in weight; Third in Feltham Chase (albeit well beaten) behind Grands Crus when putting in poor round of jumping and same story after breathing operation at Ascot, although he was said to have needed that run; This should see him at his best so has his chance although still a lot to prove.

Call The Police: Plenty of class over hurdles (runner up to Final Apporach in MCR Hurdle); Won for first time since February on his chasing debut with easy win at Gorwan and solid second to Last Insalement in Fort Leney; More needed again a trip a potential issue given how he’s weakened at end of races so passed over today.

Cannington Brook: Took advantage of mark as low as 128 to land Tommy Whittle earlier in season but exposed in Welsh National and while he was back to winning ways, he needs a bog to be taken seriously.

First Lieutenant: Looked for all the world as if he was going to make a chaser when winning the Neptune Novice Hurdle at last year’s festival (race has worked out really well) but disappointing over fences, jumping poorly and looking one paced on only try at three miles; Appreciate how he has ability to take a serious hand although his fencing form so far says different.

Grands Crus: Second best staying hurdler behind Big Bucks last season while also winning Cleeve Hurdle on the bridle; Transferred that form to fences, winning his three chases with ease; That form (which sees him beating Bobs Worth) sets a good standard although he’s not run since then and would be vulnerable if being ridden as forcefully as he was at Kempton; The one to beat.

Join Together: Useful novice hurdler, coming second in Grade 2 before then winning by 20 lengths at Chepstow, although he was pulled up in the Albert Bartlett last year; Unbeaten in two completed starts over fences, winning impressively here after the last (beat two decent rivals, one of which has disappointed since); Stamina looks strong suit and plenty in his favour for all that he’s not run since then and value’s gone from his price.

Lambro: Unenviable task when trying to take on Flemenstar over 2 miles in heavy ground but failed to build on that when behind Last Instalment and reopposing Call The Police in the P.J Moriarty; More needed today and while stepping up in trip should help, others preferred.

Mr Moonshine: Progressive over hurdles but already at least as good if not better over fences, winning two chases by 26 lengths in total; Put in his place when stepped up to Grade 2 company (open) although that behind two decent chasers in their own right; Well beaten the last twice and needs more here.

Walkon: Top class juvenile hurdler in excellent crop before injury intervened, and disappointed after excellent comeback over hurdles last season; Right back to best when romping to chase win here on debut, with 6 lengths to spare over Zanyar (easy Grade 2 winner) and Grade 1 runner up Notus De La Tour; Flopped at Newbury last twice and lot to prove here.

VERDICT: Grands Crus sets a high standard but it’s a worry that he hasn’t run since December and Feltham Chase winners are 0-17 in this while the last 48 winners all ran during the same calendar year. Ten of the last dozen winners were seven or eight-year-olds that were novice hurdling last season, finished first or second last time out and had raced at least three times over fences which leaves us with BOBS WORTH, who was third in the Feltham and a disappointing second at Ascot, but looks sure to be suited by the return to Cheltenham and should be at peak fitness for this event. It’s not hard to forget the way he ground down Arkle second Cue Card, or his better novice hurdle form from last season, and at the prices, he’s a small bit of value in what looks like a promising renewal. First Lieutenant would be much shorter than 5’s if guaranteed to give his running, but his fencing has been poor so far, and Join Together hasn’t run since December, while he was pulled up in last year’s Albert Bartlett.