Betfair Ascot Chase 2013

3.50 Ascot

Betfair Ascot Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner £84,40

Advice: 1 pt win, 2 pts place Captain Chris (11/4 general, 5/6 Bet365)

Captain Chris: Had an in and out season last year but ran with credit on many occasions (Ryanair fourth and King George third being main highlights) and just about best start to a season with win here in Amlin 1965 Chase (2m3f, heavy) and second in King George when miles clear of rest behind Long Run; Not as well in at weights as he was here in November but big chance anyway.

Cue Card: Leading novice last season and high class chaser now, winning Haldon Gold Cup by wide margin at Exeter in November and then travelling best of any in the King George but failing to get home over 3m in  heavy ground; Obvious chance dropped in trip and on better ground than he faced at Kempton.

Finian’s Rainbow: Really came of age as second season chaser last year, building on novice campaign with three wins from 4, including Champion and Melling Chases at Cheltenham and Aintree (particularly impressive in latter); Only been seen once since, when disappointing fourth behind Captain Chris and Ghizao, but the ground was to blame for that poor showing; Should do better today with that under him and  small wind op, but this not a forgiving surface and won just once on soft ground; Go well but vulnerable.

Ghizao: Gave Captain Chris weight and beating twice as novice but not able to regain that form since, although better in three runs this season even if plenty more needed to be a win contender on basis of latest third over Christmas; Others preferred.  

Pidgeon Island: Too much on his plate here to be a contender here.

Somsersby: Beat Finian’s Rainbow when winning the Victor Chandler Chase here last year but disappointing in Ryanair and at the end of the season at Sandown; Well held third in Victor Chandler Chase but fitness against him there and should go well here with that under his belt; Can’t be discounted here if at his best and does love it here.

VERDICT: A quality renewal, with CAPTAIN CHRIS taken to confirm his earlier form with Cue Card, Finain’s Rainbow and Ghizao from the Amlin 1965 and King George Chases, with the ground set to suit him more than the others. With the surface better than for both those events Captain Chris will be tested for speed more than on the other two occasions, but his jumping is far better now than it was last year and he should make a bold bid.