The RSA Chase is another Grade 1 race that takes place during the Cheltenham Festival. Open to horses aged 5 years or older, The RSA Chase is one of the longer races at 3 miles ½ furlong. There are 19 fences to jump and it is for novice chasers. The RSA chase has been a useful indicator of future Cheltenham Gold Cup winners, with several horses going on to win the most prestigious of prizes. The latest horse to achieve this was Lord Windemere, whilst Might Bite won this race in 2017.

The RSA chase is another race that has been kind to punters in recent years.3 of the last 5 winners have all been favourites and all of the last 5 winners have come from the top of the betting, so it’s another race that you don’t want to be looking too far down the card to find the winner.

 

Champ

This year’s favourite, Champ fell last time out at Cheltenham and then missed his prep run due to the cancellation of his race at Kelso. He’s not one I can be getting stuck into at 3-1. He is erratic and has a tendency to jump poorly at a number of fences throughout a race. It seems to me that he often loses his concentration and blunders more times than once. Saying that, he has got some engine and had he not fallen last time out, he would have almost certainly won the race. If he stays on his feet this time out, he could well win this race, but that’s a big “if” in my mind.

  • Paddy Power Broken Resolutions Already Dipper Novices´ Chase - 1st Jan Watch  
  • Ladbrokes ´Where The Nation Plays´ Novices´ Chase - 29th Nov Watch  
  • KKA-Highpoint Beginners´ Chase - 7th Nov Watch  

 

Copperhead

Copperhead has an entry here and in the National Hunt Novices Chase, so Colin Tizzard has a decision to make. He bolted up in Reynoldstown Novices Chaseon 15th Feb in a race in soft ground, winning by 15 lengths. This has been a good indicator for the RSA with 3 winners from this race going on to win the RSA since 2008. Copperhead looks like a really progressive sort and based on his recent performances, looks great value at 7-1 if he goes here. With regards to his entry into the National Hunt Novices chase, it’s worth noting that Tizzard has been burnt before regarding amateur jockey bookings in this race. He entered Native River in 2015 when Derek O’Connor had said he would ride him, only for the jockey to U-turn and ride Minella Rocco of JP McManus instead (who subsequently won). This time around Tizzard may be more cautious and opt to run him here instead.. Whichever race he turns up in I’ll be having a bet on him.

  • Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices´ Chase - 15th Feb Watch  
  • Betway Mandarin Handicap Chase - 28th Dec Watch  
  • Weatherbys Racing Bank Silver Buck Handicap Chase - 5th Dec Watch  

 

Allaho

Allaho won a nothing race in the Book Your Easter Festival Tickets Online At fairyhouse.ie Beginners Chase on 25th Jan, going off 2-5 fav, easing out a 21 length winner. He was a close 2nd behind Easy Game in his first run over fences after a 241 day break at the Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase and it showed that day, running out of steam in the home straight. He should be much fitter now and being a Willie Mullens horse, you’d expect him to be prepped well for Cheltenham. Allaho does have an entry for The Marsh Novices Chase, although Mullens has said this is his most likely destination, however if he gets lit up in his next few bits of work, they may be very tempted to send him over the shorter trip.

  • Book Your Easter Festival Tickets Online At fairyhouse.ie Beginners Chase - 25th Jan Watch  
  • Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase - 28th Dec Watch  
  1. 10 of the last 12 winners have been 7 year old horses
  2. Irish horses have won this race 20 of the last 23 times
  3. Unbeaten horses have won this race just twice in 31 attempts
  4. 5 of the last 10 winners won the Albert Bartlet the previous year
  5. 10 of the last 13 winners raced at The Cheltenham Festival the year before
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