Talking points from the Denman Chase ahead of the Cheltenham Festival
As the Cheltenham Festival approaches, the form guide begins to become clearer with each passing race. The Super Saturday meeting at Newbury was one of the last chances spectators got to see the big names take to the track, with the Denman Chase a main topic of conversation after an interesting race. Bryony Frost’s win with Secret Investor set her up for a great Festival last year, so it goes to show that a big win ahead of the showpiece event can do a great deal for confidence, and alter the Betdaq racing betting odds. With that in mind, let’s go through some of the key talking points from this year’s Denman Chase.
Eldorado Allen dominant
It’s been a great start to the year for the Colin Tizzard-trained Eldorado Allen, who reigned supreme in the Denman Chase with a standout performance. Having finished as a runner up in his last race at Kempton back in January, Brendan Powell must have been relishing the opportunity to get aboard the eight-year-old again to put things right, and duly delivered, looking comfortable when he pulled ahead of Imperial Aura, who admittedly started well, and then kept on well to confirm the victory.
Tizzard was delighted with a crucial win ahead of Cheltenham, saying: “He was given a great ride by Brendan again. We were pretty convinced he was a three-miler. Whether he is a three-mile-and-two-furlong horse (Gold Cup trip) is something else.
“I’m sure we will talk about supplementing him for the Gold Cup for a week or two. The Gold Cup is the Gold Cup. I would say there is any one of 14 horses who could win the Gold Cup.”
Another setback for Clan Des Obeaux
Since winning the Punchestown Gold Cup back in April of last year, its fair to say that Clan Des Obeaux has flattered to deceive in his last few races. The 10-year-old, part owned by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, was forced to settle for a podium place in the Denman Chase, finishing third with a run that lacked fluency. It’s certainly another underwhelming side step if Paul Nicholls is preparing for a defence of the Bowl Chase at the Grand National Festival in April, but judging off the run at Newbury and the second-place finish to outsider Tornado Flyer in the King George VI Chase, things aren’t quite as they should be for the four-time Grade One winner.
Royale Pagaille’s performance makes Gold Cup interesting
Heading into the Gold Cup, few would have suggested the Venetia Williams-trained Royale Pagaille could affect the race in any way. After all, the eight-year-old, who came into the Denman Chase as something of an outsider, had only recorded one win in the space of a year, coming in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock back in January.
However, finishing second behind Eldorado Allen will certainly create a new dynamic ahead of Cheltenham, with Royale Pagaille’s odds changing drastically ahead of a solid performance at Newbury. Whether he can replicate that kind of run still remains to be seen, but given the unpredictability of the big Grade One races, it would be unwise to think a shock win is completely off the cards.