Argento Chase 2013

2.25 Cheltenham

Argento Chase (Registered As The Cotswold Chase) (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (5YO plus) 
Winner £56,950

1 pt each/way Cape Tribulation (8/1 general), 3 pts Cape Tribulation to beat Quarts De Thaiix (5/6 general)

Midnight Chase:  Beat Tidal Bay by nearly 3 lengths last year in this giving him 6lbs but easy to argue that runner up is in far better form now and lacklustre effort when pulled up Lexus did not argue well for his chances; Needs more here to retain this.

Wayward Prince: Produced two solid displays this season, more than respectable second behind Silviniaco Conti being followed by strong listed win at Aintree (race fell into lap a little, but good attitude shown in dire conditions); Stamina a strong suit that he can use but can’t see him playing anything more than a supporting role

Weird Al: Class act on his day when all comes together (usually best fresh) but not been at his best over this C&D twice in recent season (pulled up in last two Gold Cups) and 2011/12 campaign rather petered out after an excellent start; Others preferred here.

Calgary Bay: Very much unproven on anything but good to soft and peak form (landed big handicaps here and at Doncaster last term) not good enough to challenge best of these.

Cape Tribulation: Pulled terrific handicap double at big festivals over hurdles last year and continued in the same vein judged upon his wide margin win at Wetherby on Boxing Day; This much tougher but got his act together and if conditions deteriorate overnight then would be player with front running style.

Hey Big Spender: Graded class horse on his day, as he showed when earning a mark of 156 for winning good handicaps at Newcastle and Warwick; Lost his way a bit since then.

Grands Crus: As talented as any horse in the field based on his novice chasing campaign, although not found the form to match his Feltham success since and worrying that his two blowouts have come at this course (clearly not at best though);Travelled so well for long periods of King George third on atrocious ground on first run back since the operation and given great chance at weights here but worry that this will become test of raw stamina.

Little Josh: Dug deep for Grand Sefton Chase win on heavy ground but needed falling mark to do so then and this trip, along with this much better class of race, a big stumbling block.

Quarts De Thaix: Proved himself well able to cope with 3 miles when winning at Bangor and Haydock and only just outside in big for a hat – trick here over 3mn1f (heavy) in handicap; This demands another leap forward and probably reliant upon others floundering to play a big role.

Hunt Ball: Back on the right track – one of jump racing’s most popular horses after last season’s meteoric rise, including clear cut in in the handicap chase here at Festival when second in Peterbough Chase, a remarkable effort considering how averse ground conditions were; If conditions stay decent here then should be respected but stamina potential flaw.

Imperial Commander: Arguably the best horse in the lineup today by some way, having trashed Denman in 2010 Gold Cup (also past Ryanair winner) and won Betfair Chase in same year; Chucked in at the weights too (3lbs and upwards from rivals) but been off since finishing lame in 2011 Gold Cup; Did love running fresh at prime and potential to give them all a run for money but may need this run a touch too much to win; Watch market.

VERDICT: A really intriguing renewal, with some top class staying chasers appearing here, but all of them having questions to answer. Grands Crus has been given a great chance at the weights, but heavy ground and this course bough him to standstill in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and he is unbackabale here with testing ground over a longer trip. 2010 Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander has no worries on that score but one has to ask if a horse who has been off for 680 days can really be fit enough to take a race like this. In such deep ground over an already testing course, maybe CAPE TRIBULATION can use his stamina to good effect, and he looks to be well worth an each/way bet at 8/1; He should also be well backed in a match bet against fellow handicapper Quarts De Thaix.