Chasing Cheltenham Glory: In-form Ring the Boss deserves big prize at Wincanton

General / Steven Rawlings / 07 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Steven Rawlings asseses recent developments in Novice Chase racing, considering which events trainers may target later in the season and looks ahead to two quality Saturday chases at Wincanton and Sandown.

Paul Nicholls' Tatenen was the comfortable winner of the Molyneaux Novices Chase at Aintree two weeks ago and is now the clear favourite for the Arkle at around [7.6].

His task was made easier when his main rival, Striking Article, jumped particularly poorly. But he was impressive enough to justify favouritism, though he looks plenty short enough so early in the season.

The following day Kicks For Free also won well for Nicholls in the 2 ½ mile race, won the previous year by subsequent Arkle winner Tidal Bay. Kicks For Free also benefited from his chief rival, Special Envoy, running a disappointing race, but he was a ready winner despite a couple of sloppy jumps.

He'll no doubt improve his fencing with experience and could well be a major player at the festival, but in which race? I would hazard a guess at the RSA but he could yet line up in the Arkle.

My third pick of that weekend had been Big Fella Thanks, another Nicholls horse. After a bold display he narrowly failed to hold on against Wichita Lineman and West End Rocker, despite trading as short as [1.03] in running.

Nicholls said afterwards that Big Fella Thanks would have been favoured by softer ground, which would have brought his stamina in to play; he sited the National Hunt Chase over four miles as a possible festival target.

In Ireland, Forpadydeplasterer, of whom great things are expected over fences, made a successful debut. His jumping was clever as opposed to spectacular but it was a pleasing start. He'll improve further and his target will be the RSA.

October ended with a very promising winner at Uttoxeter, Paul Nicholls' What a Friend. He tracked the highly regarded game frontrunner Carruthers, who also impressed, at what was a decent pace and didn't shirk the issue when Carruthers came back at him after he'd taken up the running. Apparently he needs time between races, so we may not see much of him but he might just be one to keep an eye on for the RSA.

Another that threw his hat in the RSA ring is Companero from Howard Johnson's yard. He won a Beginners Chase at Carlisle last Sunday and his jockey Denis O'Regan said he gave him a tremendous feel. It will be interesting to see how he copes with a step up in class.

Nicky Henderson's Afsoun, third in the 2006 Champion Hurdle, made his chase debut at Warwick over two miles on Monday. He managed to win but didn't impress. He may improve for the experience but connections have hinted at him being upped in trip and those that took the [16.0] about him winning the Arkle can't be on good terms with themselves.

Another Paul Nicholls runner, Oumeyade, made yet further improvement when demolishing Alan King's Greenbridge at Exeter on Tuesday. He's worth keeping the right side of but must go right handed so wont be seen at the festival.

Anway, enough of the past, what of the future?

There are two quality races tomorrow, firstly the Rising Stars Novice Chase at Wincanton on Channel Four. A very interesting and tight affair, where of the six runners, only Oncle Kid can be readily dismissed. The other five runners have already proved an aptitude for chasing and have all won at least once over fences.

I'm not a big fan of Commemoration Day who doesn't travel strongly and looks to need further than this and will probably just be outclassed here. Sir Harry Ormesher, slayer of Straw Bear, and Hold Em, a ready winner on chase debut at Huntington last Sunday, would have to be respected but I just favour the other two runners to be the main protagonists here.

Paul Nicholls has won the last two renewals with Ornais and Turko and this year saddles the promising Jim Lewis owned Breedsbreeze. He sauntered home at Bangor a month ago in a much weaker race than this and looks sure to go on to bigger and better things.

Philip Hobbs runs Ring The Boss who beat Breedsbreeze fairly convincing over hurdles at Sandown last year, albeit in receipt of 13 lbs. Over fences, he was just edged out of last year's Kingmaker at Warwick by subsequent Arkle runner up Kruguyrova, with the current Hennessy favourite Big Bucks back in third.

Possibly a little too inexperienced for the hustle and bustle of the Arkle he disappointed there but ran a couple of fine races in defeat switched back to hurdles at the end of last season. He didn't have to be at his best to win at Cheltenham three weeks ago and indeed was aided considerably by the departure of Razor Royale at the second last, who looked to be travelling at least as well at the time. Ring The Boss then appeared to idle on the run in and didn't look completely convincing but he comes here with the best chase form to date and he deserves a big prize; he's my selection.

Before that there's a tricky Beginners Chase over two miles at Sandown. Charlie Mann's Gauvain was gambled down to [6.0] for his debut at Exeter but was very disappointing behind Sir Harry Ormesher. He's described as a bull of a horse and almost certainly needed that so expect a marked improvement from him.

Crow Wood has plenty of class but at nine and with plenty of miles on the clock, a chase campaign may not be ideal. Last year's Triumph Hurdle fourth, Songe, lines up for the first time over fences and receives the handy four year old allowance. He's been gelded and the plan had been to run him on the flat over the summer but that didn't happen for some reason and he ran pretty flat on his first race back over hurdles so he's passed over.

Another four-year-old and my pick for the race is Paul Nicholls' Free World. He didn't live up to expectations when arriving from France last year, backed down to [6.5] for the Imperial Cup on debut and beaten by Philip Hobbs' Planet Of Sound resoundingly at Newbury.

There may not be too much between the pair tomorrow, Planet Of Sound is viewed as a promising chaser in the making by connections but I fancy Paul Nicholls to win the race with Free World, as he did last year with the enigmatic Pepperoni Pete.