Frankie a nice one to be on at 32/1 with sponsors in BetBright Chase
BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS BETBRIGHT CHASE DAY AT KEMPTON PARK
THE WET weather has left most trainers pulling their hair out, but not Venetia Williams, the queen of National Hunt racing, who continues to fire in big Saturday winner after big Saturday winner.
Tomorrow’s main race is the £100,000 BetBright Chase at Kempton Park (3.50pm) and I fancy Williams to land the £56,950 first prize with her sole representative
NICEONEFRANKIE.
The eight-year-old was an impressive winner on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot in November, giving Double Ross, who is now rated 19lb higher, a 13-length beating.
He hasn’t been brilliant since then, although you could take encouragement from the way he stayed on up the straight to finish fifth in Doncaster’s Sky Bet Chase last month.
It is a slight concern that Niceonefrankie has yet to win over three miles, but he looked like a stayer last time and the tight nature of Kempton Park should suit him perfectly.
The sponsors BetBright have him at 16/1, but they are running a fantastic promotion on this race. For any new customer that signs up to an account via betbright.com/cityam they will receive double odds on the winner (max bet £20).
So, if you back him at 16/1, you will get paid out at 32/1 – one of the most generous offers I’ve seen in a long time.
The obvious danger is Paul Nicholls’ Bury Parade who was a commanding winner at Ascot last time and is sure to go off favourite.
However, he has refused to race in the past, has to shoulder top-weight and the stable have had a number of well-fancied runners turned over in this race over the years.
There is very little between the rest of them and you could genuinely give a chance to every horse in the field.
Planet Of Sound is theoretically well-handicapped, yet he must carry 11st 8lb, while Baile Anrai could go well on the back of his solid run at Doncaster last time.
That said, I’m happy to leave Niceonefrankie as my sole selection and let’s hope that Williams can register another big Saturday payout.
The BetBright.com Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (2.05pm) has been one of the strongest trials for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in recent years, with both Soldatino and Zarkandar doing the double.
The latter is trained by Nicholls and you have to take note when he runs one of his juveniles in this race on debut for the yard.
Tomorrow’s representative is likely to be ALCALA and the Graham Wylie-owned grey is reportedly well regarded at Ditcheat.
Harry Fry’s Activial is probably the main threat as he ran a fine race to be second to Nicholls’ Calipto at Newbury back in November. However, I have a sneaky feeling Alcala can put himself right in the Triumph mix after this race.
Things can get even better for Nicholls later as IRVING looks like he’s going to be very hard to beat in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (3.15pm).
The Supreme Novices’ second favourite has been ready to run for some time, but hasn’t been risked on the very testing conditions and as long as it isn’t heavy tomorrow he should take his chance.
He has looked good in all three starts over hurdles so far and can get the better of Alan King’s First Mohican, who might just struggle due to a lack of experience over hurdles.
King could be celebrating earlier on the card, though, as BALDER SUCCESS looks the standout candidate in the BetBright Mobile Pendil Novices’ Chase (2.40pm).
He jumped brilliantly at Warwick last time and this course should suit equally well. If Newcastle beats the weather, the highlight will be the Betfred Eider Chase (2.55pm) which is always a war of attrition. The four-mile-one-furlong contest is normally run on bottomless ground and stamina is clearly essential.
Relax would have to be respected for the all-conquering Williams stable if taking his chance, but he had a hard race at Sandown earlier this month.
The one who I’m certain has a big race like this in him is SMOKING ACES for Jonjo O’Neill and he has to be the selection at 8/1 with Star Sports.
He could well have won at Ffos Las last time if he hadn’t made a bad mistake three out and he looks well-handicapped tomorrow.
@BillEsdaile
Pointers…
ALCALA 2.05pm Kempton (tomorrow)
BALDER SUCCESS 2.40pm Kempton (tomorrow)
SMOKING ACES e/w 2.55pm Newcastle (tomorrow)
IRVING 3.15pm Kempton (tomorrow)
NICEONEFRANKIE e/w 3.50pm Kempton (tomorrow)