Just five runners will go to post in the re-scheduled running of the AON Chase at Newbury on Friday. The race was originally supposed to be run last weekend, but due to the terrible events surrounding two horses suffering fatal heart attacks from accidental electrocution in the parade ring, Saturday's meeting was abandoned. Organisers have worked hard to get racing on Friday however and this Grade 2 contest should give the Paul Nicholls' trained What A Friend a chance to get a good run in before a possible crack at the Gold Cup and Grand National, with bookmaker Bet365 making him their 8/15 favourite for the race in the betting.
The orginal line-up last weekend had the Nicky Henderson trained Riverside Theatre entered in what looked like being a fascinating match up between him and What A Friend. Connections have decided to change plans for the King George VI runner-up however who now takes his chances in the Ascot Chase on Saturday, where he'll lock horns with another of Paul Nicholl's Cheltenham Gold Cup hopes Pride Of Dulcote. This ommission makes Friday's rescheduled race a little less interesting in betting terms, with the odds on favourite likely to take first prize.
Paul Nicholls eight year old has just the one run to his name this season, finishing a well beaten fifth behind Gold Cup favourite Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last November. This was a rather disappointing return to action for the horse owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, having won two Grade 1's and finishing runner-up to Denman in the Hennessy Gold Cup last season. If he returns to any kind of form on Friday, he should be too strong for the opposition which looks rather modest, despite giving away weight all round.
Second favourite at odds of 4/1 with Bet 365 is the Phillip Hobbs trained Fair Along, who goes chasing for the first time since April 2008. Despite featuring in the last two World Hurdles, the nine year old does have some chasing experience, winning three of his nine races over the big fences and finishing third in a Champion Chase. The horse has an entry in the Grand National and a good jumping display on Friday could give punters an idea of where his route is for the rest of the season.
Noland is another with plenty of question-marks next to his name. A talented novice chaser, he was beaten into third place in the 2008 Arkle when favourite and despite picking up a valuable Grade 1 win in Punchestown he then was forced to sit out nearly two years of action due to injury. The now ten-year-old finished second in a jumpers bumper over Christmas but disappointed in his chasing reappearance at Cheltenham last month, pulling up in the Grade 3 Murphy Group Chase. A gifted racer in his youth, it would be somewhat of an upset were he to score here at odds of 5/1 with 365.
A quick mention of the remaining two runners, who the betting would suggest have little more than a bit part to play. Carronhills wasn't in the original entry of eight last Saturday and takes his chances on Friday at odds of 20/1 for trainer Rebecca Curtis. A winner of one of his two chases to date, it's asking a lot for this hunter chaser to place in the first two. Eight year old Dance Island makes up the numbers at odds of 33/1 in the betting for trainer Ben Case, last seen pulling up in the Welsh National last month.
8/13 What A Friend
4/1 Fair Along
5/1 Noland
20/1 Carronhills
33/1 Dance Island
Odds supplied by Bet365.com, with best odds guaranteed on all UK and Irish horse racing.
Posted: Thursday, 17th February 2011
Author: Russell Lloyd
Tags: 2011 aon chase, what a friend, cheltenham gold cup, bet365,
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