RSA Chase Preview

The RSA Chase, formerly known as the Sun Alliance Novices’ Chase, is the supreme test of young staying chasers at the Cheltenham Festival. It has previously been a stepping stone for future Gold Cup horses and the roll of honour includes Brown Chamberlin (1982), Garrison Savannah (1990) and Looks Like Trouble (1999). Denman in 2007 was the most recent winner of the RSA Chase to go on to glory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In recent years there has been a tendency for trainers to bypass this event with their best novices in the belief that such a severe test at an early age can take too much out of them. That is not the concern for David Pipe this year, trainer of the outstanding novice Grands Crus. He holds the key to the RSA Chase with the long-time ante-post favourite who also has an entry for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Although there are no easy races at Cheltenham, this would certainly be seen as the obvious route for Grands Crus who has much the best form in the novice chasing ranks. He currently shows at 7-2 but his participation will be in doubt until much nearer the time.

His victory in the Grade 1 Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton was achieved at the expense of two useful sorts in Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth who are currently priced at 5-1 and 16-1 respectably for the RSA. Although well held on that form, Bobs Worth has since undergone a minor soft palate operation and trainer Nicky Henderson believes he is capable of better than he showed at Kempton. Silviniaco Conti hails from the powerful Paul Nicholls stable who have another leading contender in Join Together who races in the same colours as Denman. He has won twice over the course this season and his most recent effort caused his trainer to rethink his Cheltenham target. He had previously believed the four-mile event would be right up his street but he now believes he is right up with the best of the 3 mile chasers and deserves to take his chance in the RSA. He is currently priced at 10-1.

Ireland’s best chance this year looks to be with the improving Last Instalment, owned by the Gigginstown Stud who sadly lost their promising chaser Beautiful Sound this week. Last Instalment jumped superbly when landing the Grade 1 Fort Leney Novice Chase at Leopardstown, beating First Lieutenant who raced in the same colours. However, trainer Philip Fenton has not yet decided whether to head for the RSA Chase or go for the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.