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2011 Betfair Ascot Chase Betting: Riverside Theatre bidding for first Grade 1 success

Seven runners are due to go to post in the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase at the Berkshire track on Saturday. Raced over two and a half miles this may give a few pointers ahead of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next month, although there are a plenty of options open to most of the runners. Likely favourite is the Nicky Henderson trained Riverside Theatre, at odds of 2.63 with the race sponsor Betfair. Second in the King George VI Chase last time out behind stablemate Long Run, it was thought that the seven year old would take his place in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but it seems the Ryanair is the preferred option, where he is a general 10/1 shot.

Owned by actor James Nesbitt, Riverside Theatre has won on three of his chase starts, with his last victory coming at Kempton in November, winning a Graduation Chase. A faller in the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown last April, the seven year old finished fifth in last season's Arkle. The horse has swerved a run in Friday's rescheduled Game Spirit Chase for a crack at the Ascot Chase and his fine performance at Kempton last time out has led connections to aim him at the longer trip and his price for the Ryanair Chase is likely to come in if he scores at Ascot on Saturday.

Second in the betting at 2/1 with Bet Fair is the Paul Nicholls trained Pride Of Dulcote, who has also had to change recent plans, having been the ante-post favourite for the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown two week's ago before the meeting was abandoned. Rather than return to Ireland the following week, Nicholls will give his inexperienced eight year old chaser a chance to score at Ascot in the shorter trip before packing him off to Cheltenham for a crack at the Gold Cup. A 147 rated hurdler, Pride Of Dulcote was a beaten favourite on his last trip to Cheltenham, finishing second behind Weapon's Amnesty in the 2009 Albert Bartlett. He won on his novice chase debut at Worcester a year and a half ago before picking up an injury, but was hugely impressive winning the Mandarin Chase at Newbury on his reappearance at Newbury over Christmas. He beat the odds on Punchestowns on that day, but could find Saturday's assignment all the more tougher over the shorter trip and at odds of 2/1 it could be a horse to avoid.

Further down the betting, Tartak is third favourite with the sponsors at a smidgen over 5/1. Plenty of times a bridesmaid, the Tom George trained eight year old went eight race without a win before scoring earlier this season, first in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase run at Newbury and followed up last month at Cheltenham, winning the Grade 3 victorchandler.com Chase. At the odds he looks a decent alternative to the market leaders.

Deep Purple is another former Peterborough Chase winner, but Evan Williams' ten year old hasn't won since, placing just the once finishing third in this season's Charlie Hall Chase. His best years seem to be behind him and it would be somewhat of a leap of faith to back him here at odds of 11/1.

Big Fella Thanks will get a blow out as he heads for Aintree's Grand National for new trainer Ferdy Murphy, whilst Gauvain is looking for some kind of encouragement ahead of a crack at the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Nick Williams' nine year old ran out an impressive winner of the Sinbad Testimonial at November's Paddy Power meeting but has subsequently been beaten twice by Master Minded, by a combined distance of 51 lengths. The odds of 21/1 look quite big with Betfair if he can re-discover some of that early season form.

Racing Demon completes the seven, at 41/1 with Betfair to cause an upset. The veteran eleven year old has won two Peterborough Chase's and finished second in the 2005 RSA Chase, but his best days are a long way behind him, not having won now since November 2007.

Betfair Ascot Chase Odds

2.63 Riverside Theatre
3.0 Pride Of Dulcote
6.1 Tartak
11.9 Deep Purple
20.0 Big Fella Thanks
22.0 Gauvain
42.0 Racing Demon

Odds supplied by Betfair.com. Bet live in-running during the race with Betfair or lay the horses you don't think will win.

Posted: Friday, 18th February 2011
Author: Russell Lloyd
Tags: betfair ascot chase, riverside theatre, pride of dulcote, ryanair chase, betfair,

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