Betfair chase..Ascot

You could be right, and I have never got Captain Chris right, but I have taken a chance on Cue Card because I think this drop in trip will suit him more than Captain Chris. Cue Card never travelled well from the beginning in the KG so it may have been the ground, and it'll be better tomorrow. Captain is the one to beat but he was involved in a tough finish with Long Run

this Ascot ground will not be as bad as that ground at Kempton on KG day. I think this will be right on the limit of Cue Card's stamina but I think he is a better horse than Captain Chris  and will just hold on. but if he doesn't quite see it out then Captain could cut him down near the finish. should be a good race

yep it will be a close one. Connections always felt Cue Card would stay 3m, I don't personally but will chance him over 21f tomorrow when the ground is better than what he had last time. It is possible he hated it.

Captain Chris looks as good as ever this season in fairness, but I never get him right so wont start now!

Tizzard stable in good form too.

Finians Rainbow the best horse here but is having his first run back since the minor breathing op. You could argue he is value at 100/30 on past form but he may need the run?? Bobs Worth got beat on his first run back after a mid-season breathing op last season before winning the RSA. If FR runs close to winning tomorrow I shall back him for the Ryanair.

Tizzard messed the start of the KG up completely and got the horse lit up like a Christmas Tree after only two fences and was never going to stay like that. No point in crying over spilt milk but if you were going to hold the horse up and try to get him switched off I would have ensured you got a position on the rail surrounded by horses. Instead he was lined up to the outside and the first thing Joe did was switch him out to get a view of the first fence where he made a mistake and compounded it at the second.

The reason I bring that up is that it makes drawing conclusions about the match up with Captain Chris fraught with uncertainty. What difference will it make if Joe gets him to jump off nicely, settle well and get into a good rhythm (especially bearing in mind the shorter trip and likely better going)?

I don't know the answer but I do know it is a very tricky judgement to make. If you remember the KG Captain Chris was scrubbed along down the back straight as Champion Court lead at a very strong gallop, he didn't move into contention until into the home straight

I will be betting in play only myself.Good luck if you back pre race

yes very interesting to how Finian's gets on as well sint. Ground not really ideal and as you say me need run after op. If he does run well then sure to be a big player at cheltenham and aintree

surely Cue Card will get an easy lead here?

Ghizao might take him on up front?

yes but Ghizao is nowhere near his level and CC will easily see him off

yes I can't really see Ruby wanting to take him on, he'll probably sit 2nd. I'd certainly like to see Tizzard out in front

I would not like to see Tizzard anywhere near the race myself.

Bad form from Ascot not giving a reading all week, its still, imo going to be horribly tacky there tomorrow, if Somersby drifts a bit more then i might back him as his form here seems far more consistent than anywhere else he's raced at, slight worry at the distance, but i dont think they'll want to go mad in the conditions

Dont look a good race to get too stuck into to me.
Worth watching for the future though,very interesting in that respect.
If i had to bet it would be Captain Chris,its right handed which hes a much better horse at,but that KG took it out of him,as it did Cue Card.
No bet,just watch imo.

interesting lads and on reflection i think i will sit this one out...if pushed i think the captain should win...good luck all

A further thought, i would imagine that THIS is Somersbys festival, think they know they wont be winning prizes at Prestbury Park

I think Cue Card possibly had a less tough race than Captain Chris as he was not involved in a finish, but it was 52 days ago so maybe they'll both be sweet. Some horses who ran on the same card that day have come and improved their ratings whilst others have gone backwards so it's hard to know.

agree Zil. Likely to be Somersby's main aim.

thats four out of the 6 fancied...what about ghizao anyone

good knows. Things may fall his way but he has never looked a Grade 1 horse in his last half-dozen runs. It would be disapponting if he won.

The King George was a very hard race and may have left its mark on Cue Card and Captain Chris...Finnians Rainbow looks great value

maybe I got lucky today with Captain Chris making a mistake, but Cue Card was responding to Joe Tizzard's urgings. Would have been close

Early on in the race sint, I thought Captain was jumping the better of the 2 and settled better as well. I think on better ground at chelters Cue Card is still the one to beat in the ryanair

yeah I agree particularly after Finians ran a stinker, even if he had excuses, you couldn't back him next time imo unless he is double figures which he wouldn't be.

For me First Lieutenant should be in the Gold Cup, so 9/2 about Cue Card antepost looks decents, though I wont back him because I have too many liabilities at the moment!!

yeah I agree particularly after Finians ran a stinker, even if he had excuses, you couldn't back him next time imo unless he is double figures which he wouldn't be.

For me First Lieutenant should be in the Gold Cup, so 9/2 about Cue Card antepost looks decents, though I wont back him because I have too many liabilities at the moment!!