Tag: Ma Filleule

Ryanair Chase Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

With reigning champion Dynaste and 2013 winner Cue Card both injured, there will be a new name on the roll of honour for the Ryanair Chase next week.

The two and a half mile race was added to the Cheltenham festival programme in 2005 to provide a viable alternative for horses that were not suited to the Champion Chase or Gold Cup distances. The favourite is Don Cossack who has won his last four races for Gordon Elliott including the Punchestown Chase in December. He had four and a half lengths to spare over Boston Bob that day but fell at the corresponding meeting in the RSA Chase.

Alan King has been bullish about the chances of Balder Succes since he beat Ma Filleule at Ascot. He had originally been regarded as a Champion Chase prospect but King has switched him up in trip with excellent results. The big worry for his supporters is his appalling record at Cheltenham having failed to complete in all three previous visits.

Nicky Henderson does not appear to have such a strong hand at the festival this year, although he would probably settle for Sprinter Sacre winning. He is confident that this is the race for Ma Filleule and the grey mare should give her supporters a good run for her money. Having won the Topham at Aintree, I just wonder if she will find this a bit sharp.

Quicker ground would bring Johns Spirit into contention. He was a fine second to Caid Du Berlais in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and ran well for a long way in the King George. He has won three times here in big handicaps, all on good or good to soft ground.

The absence of the previous two winners has persuaded John Hanlon to divert Hidden Cyclone from the Champion Chase. The ten-year-old seems equally effective over two and two and a half miles and was only beaten by Dynaste here a year ago. His jumping has not always been the best but he looks a lively contender in a wide open race.

It looks worth opposing the favourites here with a couple of sporting each-way bets on Johns Spirit and Hidden Cyclone.

Johns Spirit @9-1 William Hill

Hidden Cyclone @10-1 William Hill

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3 (Non-runner – no bet)

Ptit Zig fancied for Betfair Ascot Chase

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

One of the most exciting prospects for the Cheltenham festival in March is the Paul Nicholls-trained Ptit Zig who is unbeaten in four starts over fences. He is set to line up in Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase after stable companion Al Ferof was ruled out through injury.

The sponsors put up Balder Succes as the 9-4 favourite on Tuesday with Ptit Zig at 11-4 but I don’t think that price will last long. Ptit Zig was long odds-on at Exeter and Warwick in November and won both races without any fuss. He was then upped in class to a Grade 2 at Ascot and dished out a nine-lengths beating to the odds-on Josses Hill.

The runner-up was surprisingly beaten last week in his Cheltenham prep but remains a serious chasing prospect. It was the superior speed on the flat which was particularly impressive about the winner, quickening clear after the last. Traffic Flude finished almost 30 lengths behind Ptit Zig but won readily at Plumpton on Monday.

Nicholls sent the son of Great Pretender to Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and he put Champagne West by six lengths. As at Ascot, Ptit Zig showed a good turn of foot from the last and his most likely target is the JLT Novices’ Chase at the festival.

Alan King’s Balder Succes was thought to be a likely contender for the Champion Chase at the start of the season but he suffered defeats on his first three starts. He was slightly disappointing when only fourth to Dodging Bullets in the Tingle Creek Chase in December. He was then beaten by Special Tiara at Kempton but bounced back to win on the same course in January.

Champagne Fever was a high class hurdler but has proved a little erratic over fences. He came close to winning the Arkle last season when just beaten on the nod by Western Warhorse. His only victory since was at Clonmel in November. He did not seem to get home when fourth to Silviniaco Conti at Kempton in the King George VI Chase and fell at Thurles last time. He looked beaten at the time with Don Cossack going on to win well.

Ma Filleule looked a very exciting prospect when winning at Aintree in April and shaped well when only a length and a half behind Sam Winner at the same course in December. The grey still holds a Gold Cup entry and may find one or two of these too quick here.

Ptit Zig 3.50 Ascot @11-4 Betfair