The Victor Chandler Chase

23/01/2012 - Two miles one furlong chase for five year olds and upwards

   

The Victor Chandler Chase . A Grade one race over 2 miles and 1 furlong at Ascot.

Although this race actually had a dreadful start when the first two races in 1987 and 1988 were abandoned because of poor weather (Frost and fog) the first time it was run in 1989 was one of the best races I have ever seen. Then a handicap run over a slightly shorter distance of 2 miles saw Desert Orchid the bold front running grey taking on the very smart Panto Prince and giving him a stone and 8 pounds, over a distance that was shorter than ideal for Dessie and getting the better of Panto Prince holding on to win by a head..

The race was changed from a handicap and up-rated to Grade 1 status and a further furlong added to the distance in 2007.

Run 6 or 7 weeks before and at a similar distance to races at the Cheltenham festival this race is often seen as a good pointer for the festival

 

---

List of Runners

---

Race Preview

Al Ferof

This irish import is a Grade 2 NHF horse, but made a less than promising start over hurdles with a fall on his debut when odds-on at Cheltenham (was three lengths clear at the time). He was then third in a Grade 1 at Newbury behind Backspin and Court in Motion. He then got his act firmly together winning three times climaxing with a great 2 length win in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the festival.
He has started this season chasing and continuing in this winning vein staring with a Grade 2 novice chase at Cheltenham with Astracad second 7 length behind and Maggio in third a further 37 lengths behind. One further run in a Grade 1 novice chase at Sandown saw him extend this winning run to five. Looks a very good Grey gelding from the same owner as the very smart One Man. A striking horse to look at and one with talent stepping up in class again and can not be left out of any reckoning.
Wins have come on ground ranging from good to heavy

Finian´s Rainbow

Extremely talented bay gelding who was second at the festival last season in the Grade 1 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase behind Captain Chris. Then went on to win the Grade 1 John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase at the Aintree festival a month later. Started this season at Kempton with a win in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase where he had Wishfull Thinking three parts of a length behind but he was getting a pound from the second and at levels today this could be interesting. A winner of 5 of his 6 chases and 8 of his 11 races he is a worthy favorite.
Wins have come on ground ranging from good to soft.

Forpadydeplasterer

A really good consistent Irish horse who won the Grade 1 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase in 2009. That was the last time he won, however he has been in the first three in 19 of his 21 starts and has been 2nd in five grade 1 races since including the Queen Mother at the festival. Has been tried without success at longer trips and is now back to his best distance. Can't be left out but there are some possible rising stars with more appeal today.
Wins have come on ground ranging from good/soft to heavy

Gauvain

5th last year behind Master Minded this German import has been running well in good races and has started this season really well.
Stunning winner of the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November with the 2nd third and 4th horses 16 lths 23 lths and a distance behind. Took a fall next time out in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown but bounced back to winning ways in the Betfred Peterborough Chase with Somersby four and a half lengths behind but that was over 3 furlongs further than today. Well exposed but in good form this season
Wins have come on ground ranging from good to soft

I´m So Lucky

6th in this race last year and followed that up with 7th in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the festival. A good horse who is well exposed and will have plenty on to win this this year.
Wins have come on ground ranging from Firm to soft

Oiseau De Nuit

Surprise winner of last seasons Grand Annual at the Festival last season but he did win well. 3rd in the Grade 2 williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase with two of his rivals Finian´s Rainbow and Wishfull Thinking ahead of him. That was good form over 2 miles and he has won over this distance but looks to only have an outsiders chance in this competitive event.
Wins have come on ground ranging from soft to heavy

Somersby

Another good consistent sort who was second in this race last year behind the smart Master Minded. 2nd in the Grade 1 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at the 2010 Cheltenham festival. 5th in last seasons Queen Mother champion chase. Was tried at further in the Grade 1 William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on his last start and despite running well was weakening in the closing stages. Another with a good chance.
Wins have come on ground ranging from good to soft

Wishfull Thinking

Really good chaser who tends to put in a poor performance every now and then. 2nd in last seasons Jewson Novices' Chase at the festival over 2m 4f. Has been running mainly around 2m 4f, but since 6th in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham in November over two miles and four and a half furlongs where he looked to be weakening at the end he has been tried twice over a shorter trip. 6th in the Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase over two miles (weakening again at the end) and the williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase Grade 2 where he looked to be finishing better but was headed on the run in but one of his rivals today Finian's Rainbow. Has only won once at this distance with other 7 wins at further. Strikes me as his best or true form is yet to come.
Wins have come on ground ranging from good to soft

Conclusion

A very good renewal of this fine chase with any of the first four in the betting would be worthy winners and few below them in with a chance.
Al Ferof has done little wrong since getting his act together and comes here with 5 wins on the bounce behind him. His trainer has won this race the last three years and could well make if four with this talented chaser. Somersby fancied for this race last season when joint favorite to the winner Master Minded and would have won but for that super talented horse and they were 20 lengths ahead of the third horse puts him in with a good chance. However FINIAN´S RAINBOW looks a worthy favorite and gets the nod with his trainer Nicky Henderson a three times winner of this race. The horse has done little wrong in any of his running's and his second in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase was behind the very smart Captain Chris who could be bound for a tilt at The Gold Cup in two months time. Despite only three quarters of a length ahead of the weakening Wishful Thinking back in December he may have won that race with a little in hand and the bare form may not be a true reflection of his chance. He is also a course winner and that is usually a plus at this course.

---

Result of the Race

 
 
 
 
 

---

        © Copyright 2012         To advertise on this web site please email webmaster@the-parade.co.uk