The big race of Day 2 attracts the smallest field of the Festival. With Champion Chaser Altior now absent, there’s just 6 runners lining up for this with an expected shootout between Philip Hobbs’ Defi Du Seuil and Willie Mullins’ Chacun Pour Soi. The rest of the field are trading well into double figures.
The Favourite
Defi Du Seuil is the favourite and rightfully so. He’s a winner of 6 of his 9 starts over fences, a course specialist who’s won 6 of his 8 starts here and is a winner of both races he’s contested at the Festival previously, the 2017 Triumph Hurdle and last year’s JLT. This year he’s won his last 3 including the Clarence House in impressive fashion last time out.
The Challenger
Chacun Pour Soi is Defi’s main rival, the only Irish challenger and the last horse to beat Defi Du Seuil, back in May last year at the Punchestown Festival. He was beaten by A Plus Tard at odds on over Christmas but may just have needed the run but handed Min a near 4 length beating on his last run in the Dublin Chase. I’m not convinced he’s a Cheltenham type so would prefer to take a chance on one of the longer priced runners.
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Contenders
At 50/1, Bun Doran looks totally outclassed whilst Politologue, 2nd in this last year, needs to improve having finished behind Defi Du Seuil on his last 2 starts and, on jockey bookings, is the stable’s second string. Sceau Royal was 3rd in this last year and ran well in 2nd in the Game Spirit last time, he looks sure to run his race again.
Betting
The bet is Dynamite Dollars, a horse that still has untapped potential and looks to be the yard’s main hope. He won 4 of his 5 chase starts as a novice, including a Grade 1 and a pair of Grade 2’s. His only novice defeat was at the hands of Lalor over course and distance, a race where Defi Du Seuil was a further 20 lengths back. He then suffered an injury keeping him off the track for 12 months before making his reappearance in that Game Spirit Chase won by Altior. He was just a neck behind Sceau Royal but that was an incredible effort after more than a year off. With the expected improvement after such an absence, he’s a danger to all and looks a massive price to get in amongst the 2 market leaders.
Tips
PLACED – Back Dynamite Dollars (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 17.00 Coral BOG (¼ odds 1-2)
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