The Betfair Ascot Chase is the final piece of the domestic challenge’s Grade 1 form ahead on next month’s Cheltenham Festival and we’re treated to a brilliant renewal this year despite a deluge of rain guaranteeing testing conditions.
Defending champ’ Cue Card is back for more and gets his favoured ground, but he’s really lost his form this season and, though he’s made a mockery of any line of thought doubting his credentials because of his age down the years, time does seem to have finally caught up with this wonderful horse.
11/1 is pretty huge and I wouldn’t want to put anyone off a bet at those odds, but this is the sort of race I’m more keen to back the most likely winner.
That horse for me is WAITING PATIENTLY for the grieving Jefferson team.
Trainer Malcolm died recently and his daughter has taken over his license, but this is their stable star and he’s unbeaten over fences with a liking for soft ground.
He’s very much a horse on the up, and I think he has more scope to improve than the favourite Top Notch and all bar the Irish raider Coney Island.
Top Notch’s form is there to be shot at for me as he’s always been shy of the very best over both hurdles and fences, either as a novice or in open company, however Coney Island is fancied by many for the Gold Cup and is definitely the biggest concern to the selection.
1pt win Waiting Patiently @9/4, 15:35 Ascot, Saturday
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