Village Vic returns to the scene of the greatest success of his career, and is an obvious contender to run well under the usual aggressive ride from Richard Johnson.
Village Vic loves it around Cheltenham and looked exceptional when going down to Taquin De Seuil in the BetVictor Gold Cup last month. The outcome of that race dominates the betting in the market as well, but as much as I really like this runner, I can’t have him off top-weight to repeat the feat of a year ago.
There is also a question mark over the level of the BetVictor last month with such a narrow margin between the first six, and our selections constitute a move away from that form-line with a couple of horses that particularly stand-out.
QUITE BY CHANCE looks a much improved seven-year-old for the Tizzard yard based on his first two runs this season.
He slammed a decent enough Listed-level field on his season opener, and was racing up another 8lbs when a staying on length and a half second to a well-treated Sire De Grugy on his second start which was arguably his best run of his career. Sire De Grugy finished second off a mark of 166 in the Tingle Creek a few weeks later so that form looks extremely solid.
The step up in trip to 2m 5f looks to be ideal having won over further in the past. He goes well on a quick surface, and has a decent racing weight off a mark of 147 with Village Vic at the top of the handicap.
Quite By Chance has received support from 20/1, and there is also a little bit of course form having finished 4/10 on good ground over 3m 1f a couple of seasons ago here – a trip which probably stretched him. He ticks a lot of boxes and appears decent value to go well in this competitive handicap.
The other one we like is KYLEMORE LOUGH, who realistically may be the class act in this race. A Grade 1 winner as a Novice in March at Fairyhouse to top off a five race winning streak, he was scheduled for a run in the John Durkin Grade 1 Chase on Sunday where he would have faced Black Hercules and Djakadam.
The connections have opted to tackle a Grade 3 handicap rather than take on those heavyweights but that may ultimately be his grade in the near future. This represents a step down in company compared to that race and compared to his opening run of the year in a Grade 2 where he finished a head behind Royal Regatta at Ascot. That was a cracking opening effort to the season and you have to believe there is more to come from this talented jumper.
Kylemore Lough does have to carry a lot of weight having won five out of seven chase starts. But he was mightily progressive last season and his form looks strong enough to go very close in this even with that burden.
The slight concern is that he lacks big handicap-race experience and he may ultimately want it a little softer, but I don’t think the ground will be lightning quick with rain forecast and a watered course, and if Kerry Lee decides to run him then it is worth taking a chance that his class will shine through at a price of 8/1.
1pt win Kylemore Lough @8/1,13:50 Cheltenham, Saturday
0.5pt each-way Quite By Chance @16/1, 13:50 Cheltenham, Saturday (1/4 odds, four places with betvictor)
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