Bet On The Racing Plus Chase 2013

Saturday’s Racing Plus Chase features the much-awaited reappearance of Wyck Hill, an impressive winner over Katenko at Ascot in December. The runner-up has won twice since and was particularly impressive in winning a competitive handicap at Cheltenham last time out. Wyck Hill has been raised 7lb for that victory but holds entries in both the Gold Cup and the Grand National.

Wyck Hill’s improvement has not gone unnoticed and this week he was bought privately by leading owner JP McManus for an undisclosed fee. David Bridgwater was among those holding a share in the horse and is delighted to be training for such a high profile owner. Tony McCoy takes over on the nine-year-old for Saturday’s feature race and it is no surprise to see him at the head of the market at 5-2 with Bet365.

His main market rival is the Paul Nicholls-trained Rolling Aces, raised 6lb for an eleven-length victory over Opening Batsman at Wincanton. Harry Fry’s gelding has since gone on to win well but there seems no obvious reason for him to turn the form around with Rolling Aces. Ruby Walsh takes the ride on the 100-30 second favourite and he looks the most obvious threat to Wyck Hill.

For the last two years this race has gone to the front-running grey Nacarat but he has shown nothing in two starts this season and was beaten a country mile at Aintree last time. As brave as was last year, it did look a very weak renewal and you would expect him to struggle against some of these. One horse who could show a big improvement is Nicky Henderson’s Roberto Goldback. The eleven-year-old joined the Lambourn trainer at the start of this season and romped away with a decent handicap at Ascot first time out. His form has since fallen away but the ground could be the key to his chances on Saturday. He is at his best on a good surface and has been ill at ease in the heavy ground for his last two outings.

Roberto Goldback holds Duke of Lucca on his Ascot form but still has a lot to find with Wyck Hill. Providing the going remains on the good side, he looks a good each-way bet at odds around 16-1. Henderson also saddles Quantitativeasing who is a smart performer at his best but has yet to show that he stays three miles. Nigel Twiston-Davies saddles an interesting contender in Same Difference. Although still a novice, there was a lot to like about his gutsy effort against two smart sorts in Unioniste and Hadrian’s Approach at Newbury. He battled all the way to the line and was under four lengths adrift at the line in third. If he can reproduce that form he could figure at odds of around 12-1.