Royal & SunAlliance Chase
3m 1/2f Chase Wednesday 17th March
2:40pm
The Royal & SunAlliance, or RSA Chase is one of the most eagerly anticipated of the year is it provides the ultimate test for top novice Chasers- 3 miles over the Cheltenham fences, with the winner invariably fancied to go on and leave his mark in the Gold Cup in later years.
Nicky Henderson's confirmed classy staying hurdler Punchestowns is the leading fancy at the time of writing after impressing on his introduction to the bigger obstacles with a comfortable display of jumping and cruising at Newbury in November. He walked the race but only had to see off three rivals of suspect quality in that race so it is yet to be seen what he has in the locker against a large and high class field as he will surely face in the RSA.
Another lively candidate with only one run on British soil over fences is Long Run...but this French raider has plenty of Chasing experience in France and has multiple victories to his name at Grade 1 level. He was staggeringly impressive on his British debut in the Feltham Novices Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, and he gives Nicky Henderson another lively contender in this race.
Weapons Amnesty and Pandorama have both impressed this season and will play a big part, as could Diamond Harry who is yet to run over fences but is another classy 3 mile hurdler.
A big danger though comes in the form of Mikael d'Haguenet. One of the most impressive winners at last year's festival in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle, he followed that up with a scintillating victory at Punchestowns and he was tipped for great things this season. However, he hasn't been seen since and with time running out before the festival it is unclear if trainer Willie Mullins will be able to get the necessary preparatory run into him. If he does make it to the festival he will be a real contender for this crown though as his class is undoubted.
BHA Selection: Long Run
Alternative: Mikael d'Haguenet
Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase
2m Chase
Wednesday 17th March
3:20pm
A festival highlight and day two's feature, the Queen Mother Champion Chase is the most presitigious title in the 2m Chasing calendar, and combines jumping ability and a real test of speed and endurance up the Cheltenham hill
This year's renewal is another with a really open feel about it. The incomparable Master Minded has dominated the 2m Chasing scene for the last few years and won this race on both of its last renewals with consummate ease. If he was fully fit another success would almost have been a formality, however he has suffered from a bad rib injury this season and was beaten on his only appearance at Cheltenham in November.
He has been in recovery mode since then and will go straight to the festival without another preparatory run so how fit he will be must all be taken on trust. If he is fit and well then the 7/4 currently offered at the time of writing could be a gift about potentially one of the greatest 2m Chasers of all time, or alternatively it could be far too short a price about an unfit chance.
Another Nicholls horse Twist Magic seems to be in the form of his life at the moment and is one of the few horses who, on his day, could challenge a fully fit Master Minded. Claims that he doesnt enjoy running at Cheltenham could be proved to be false as the evidence of his 2007 run in the Arkle would suggest when he looked every inch the winner before coming down two out, and if he can control his lively temperament and run his race then he could take all the beating and add to his glittering list of Grade 1 successes, which includes two Tingle Creeks and an Irish Champion Chase.
Last year's Arkle 1 and 2 Forpadydeplasterer and Kalahari King are dangers but have perhaps not shown enough to suggest they can win at this very top level, while Petit Robin is an improving sort with bags of class and could be a lively alternative.
BHA Selection: Twist Magic
Alternative: Petit Robin
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