RSA Chase 2016 - Festival Focus

We Could Be Heroes - Bryan Cooper and No More Heroes can land the RSA.

In spite of the fact that generally speaking the thought is that the RSA is a slog of real attrition that can rip the guts out of a horse, in recent years we’ve seen the classiest sorts in the race rise to the top.

With what we’ve seen to date this season only two horses set for the race look genuine top class staying chase prospects, with the remainder of the market made up of strong staying sorts who would want the relentless test of stamina the RSA is often billed as but doesn’t always transpire to be.

No More Heroes and More Of That look well clear of the remainder that are likely to take up their engagement in the race, and although Jonjo O’Neill’s former World Hurdle winner is the bigger price it is Gordon Elliot’s charge that appeals most for the novice staying chase event.

I’ve thought of No More Heroes as a future Gold Cup winner since his Bumper days and his novice chase campaign to date has done nothing but strengthen those thoughts.

He was a good novice hurdler last season and while he looked every inch a chaser killing time until his destiny called, he still managed an unlucky third in last year’s war of an Albert Bartlett.

Betfair Chase Preview 2014

Taq To The Future - Taquin Du Seuil can announce arrival in the big leagues in the Betfair Chase

The first Grade 1 race of the national hunt season will be upon is this Saturday as the Betfair Chase takes place at Haydock.

Responsible for some fabulous races since its inception a little under a decade ago, this year’s renewal looks set to be one of the most informative in a while given how open the staying chase division looks this season.

Won last year by Cue Card in tremendous style, the reigning champ and the two placed horses from last year look set to lock horns again in 2014 with all three currently heading the betting.

It’s the new kid on the block that I like this year though and much like Silviniaco Conti two years ago, the time looks right for a pretender to grab a table with the big boys.