Only six go to post for this Grade 2 over just shy of three miles at Ascot.
All known form points in the direction of DRUMACOO, who in receiving 4lbs from his closest market rival has to be the bet at 9/4.
That rival is Onenightinvienna, who recently got to within three lengths of RSA Chase third-favourite Blaklion at Cheltenham, when giving him 5lbs.
Six lengths back in third was Fletchers Flyer, who next time out was hammered 38 lengths by the selection at Huntingdon, so the collateral form looks strong.
It having been Drumacoo’s seasonal début opens him up to further improvement and his trainer, Ben Pauling, is giving out all the positive vibes we’d want to hear before committing our hard-earned to the horse.
“He must have outstanding claims, he’s spot on and in great order.
“Every day he’s sound is a good one given his problems, but since Huntingdon we’ve not had a problem. I don’t think it’s too close to Cheltenham and, god willing, that will be next.
“We need to see him go and do it twice. Often when horses have a long time off they go and do it first time but not again.
“They always thought a lot of him in Ireland – his win over Roi Des Francs now reads exceptionally well.
“He’s been given a handicap mark of 143 and if he’d had another run, I’d have no qualms about throwing him in off that rating as it seems generous to me.
“I’ll admit his Huntingdon race must have been hard to rate, though, with Value At Risk falling and Fletchers Flyer not running his race. We still won by 38 lengths though.
“He ran in a hood as he is a funny individual. One day he’d been fine, the next he’d take off on the gallop. If the hood hadn’t been invented he’d be quite a tricky horse to train but it just sends him to sleep, he’s like a lamb now.
“He’s one horse I have that I think could go right to the top.”
A win tomorrow would be his fifth on the bounce, so he’s certainly consistent.
That Onenightinvienna was turned over last time out by a horse rated 13lbs his inferior adds to the value, so the selection is strongly fancied to continue his upwards curve and take a lofty position in the RSA Chase market.
More of a threat tomorrow is Vyta Du Rock, whose hurdles form is top-class but hasn’t taken so well to chasing and might need better ground to win at this long trip.
2pts win Drumacoo @9/4, 13:50 Ascot
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