BetBright Chase 2014 Preview

Saturday’s BetBright Chase, formerly known as the Racing Post Chase, has attracted a field of 13 headed by Bury Parade. The race has often proved a decent trial for the Aintree Grand National but that looks unlikely this year with the going currently heavy.

The Favourite

Bury Parade is likely to be a strong favourite here after an impressive victory at Ascot last time out. He is one of three runners trained by Paul Nicholls who has recently had a frustrating time in the big Saturday races.

Big Buck’s, Zarkandar, Unioniste, Rocky Creek, Dodging Bullets and Irish Saint have all been beaten in recent weeks. Bury Parade is up 9lbs for that victory but is only 4lbs worse off with runner-up Grandioso and should confirm the form.

He won at this course in November, holding off the useful Hadrian’s Approach by a nose under Sam Twiston-Davies. He blotted his copybook by refusing to race at Exeter in December but ran in a hood for the first time at Ascot and will be hard to beat if repeating that form here. The ground was particularly testing that day so there should be no fears on that score. He is the current favourite at 4-1 with Bet365.

The Challengers

Grandioso, a stable companion of Bury Parade, has always been well regarded by the trainer but is yet to win this season. His last effort was his best to date and he has won at this venue. The third Nicholls runner is Jump City who ran well when second to Planet Of Sound here in January but failed to reproduce that form at Sandown next time out.

Planet Of Sound is 4lbs worse off for two lengths with Jump City but that was his first start of the season. He is now twelve years of age but Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson have a marvellous record in this event. The trainer has won it four times while Johnson has steered home the winner on five occasions. He could prove to be the each-way value of the race at around 12-1.

Alan King’s stable are starting to make up for lost time after the yard was shut down for a few weeks over Christmas. Bless The Wings and Midnight Appeal both have chances on their best form. Midnight Appeal ran particularly well last time when just touched off by Triangular here at the last meeting.

Ardkilly Witness is another fancied runner after chasing home Relax at Sandown. The gelding is nothing if not consistent and looks sure to run his usual solid race. Baile Anrai finished second in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster and will be staying on at the finish.

Whats Happening and Bally Legend are the pick of the outsiders while Standing Ovation is probably in the grip of the handicapper after running up a sequence at the start of the season.