RSA Chase
The RSA Chase is the third race on Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival. The race is a Grade 1 chase for novices aged five years or older. Run over a stamina testing distance of approximately 3 miles and 110 yards, the horses will have a total of 19 fences to jump.
The race has been previously won by some brilliant horses, most recently by two greats in Albertas Run and the magnificently tough Denman. Albertas Run won the RSA Chase in 2008. He contested the Gold Cup in 2009 when finishing 8th. He then dropped down in trip and has sealed successive wins in the Ryanair Chase winning in 2010 and 2011. Denman, one of the most popular horses around, secured victory in the RSA in 2007 and went to to record a brilliant win in the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He recorded several other brilliant victories and amassed over a million in prize money for his connections.
Chasing RSA Glory In 2012
The market for the 2012 RSA Chase is headed by Grands Crus who has barely put a foot wrong in his novice chasing season thus far. The David Pipe trained grey secured a comfortable victory on his chasing debut at Cheltenham. He followed that up with a Grade 2 victory at Newbury before putting in a dominant performance in the Grade 1 Feltham Novices Chase. He jumped fluently and took the running up earlier than perhaps usual. Despite this he had the smart Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth struggling and eased down across the winning line. Already at the top of the RSA market, the comfortable win has seen him strengthen his position at the top of the Cheltenham betting. However, such was the performance, the idea of stepping out of novice company and running in the Gold Cup remains a possible option that has yet to be decided.
With the live possibility of Grands Crus lining up in the Gold Cup it’s understandable that the other market principals have come in for support. Such is the nature of ante post betting, any price taken on the other horses would not be affected should Grands Crus not take part. The benefit here being that the other horses prices would be considerably shorter if the market leader Grands Crus was to bypass the race.
This in part explains why Bobs Worth is around half the price he was in the immediate aftermath of the Feltham. His jumping was some what disappointing that day, however it has emerged after the race that he has had a wind operation. Given the fact he has a perfect 3/3 record at Cheltenham, including a win at last year’s festival in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle, I can see why he has come in for good support. He still needs to improve his jumping for me though as any blunders could prove costly.
There is once again a host of Irish contenders and given the fact the Irish have taken the last three renewals it would be foolish not to consider their chances. Heading the Irish contenders is the Gigginstown owned Last Instalment. The gelding showed a decent level of form over hurdles last season and has looked a top prospect over the larger obstacles this season. Like Grand Crus he also boasts a record of 3/3 chase victories, including a Grade 2 and Grade 1 success to his name. His Grade 1 victory in the Fort Leney was a fine performance, jumping sublimely and traveling powerfully throughout. Gigginstown have another two potential runners in First Lieutenant and Sir Des Champs. I also have to mention Bog Warrior, again owned by Gigginstown, who is a horse I rate very highly. He remains reasonably prominent in the market, however appears to have a selection of possible races at the festival.
With Silviniaco Conti looking an unlikely runner and Sonofvic definitely out of the running it looks most likely Join Together will be trainer Paul Nicholls hope of success. Last seen hammering the useful Mossley and Champion Court, he deserves respect for a trainer that thrives on the big occasions.
Bostons Angel Springs A Surprise in 2011
Having had plenty of time to see how last year’s RSA Chase form has worked out, it’s fairly safe to say that it wasn’t a top class renewal of the Grade 1 event. Bostons Angel secured victory for trainer Jessica Harrington. However he was last seen labouring behind Golan Way at Sandown in a race that wasn’t of the highest quality. Second place Jessies Dream hasn’t been seen since the race and third placed Wayward Prince was last seen finishing fourth in the Rowland Meyrick. The form of the race has had very little boosts and it’s more than likely the RSA Chase will be a much better affair in the 2012 Cheltenham Festival.