2013 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot Preview Part 2

Sanctuaire is going to be one of the key contenders in this race and Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old son of Kendor has a great chance of challenging Sprinter Sacre - the penultimate favourite for this one. Expect him to likely go off as the second betting favourite on the back of his Kempton victory and several strong results at this distance from last season. He looks to be just coming into form and he’s very likely to get Ruby Walsh for the trip here. He takes money in virtually every race he runs in and expect him to get plenty of support from those looking to topple Sprinter Sacre - one of the best 2m chasers we’ve seen for quite some time. 

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Expect Sanctuaire to go to the front right away and attempt to stay there. 

William’s Wishes, another son of Oscar, will enter this one looking for his sixth victory in a row. The in-form jumper has been selectively campaigned and has only raced twice since January of 2011. He has won virtually every effort he’d had over the past few years, albeit most of the races haven’t been at particularly high-class race tracks. He does have a notable victory at Ascot in a graduation chase from November 2012 when he bested a tough field that included Champion Court. Sent off at 7/1 on the day, he showed plenty of verve in that win - his largest to date. 

He is also one of the rare jumpers in this one who is likely to be deployed at the rear of the field for the entirety of the race. This will be interesting as the pace up front is expected to be very quick. 

Sprinter Sacre has been one of the real revelations on the 2m chasing circuit ever since he proved all the doubters wrong and stormed to victory at Cheltenham last year in the Arkle challenge before kicking on again at Aintree to conquer the Grade 1 Maghull Chase. He was sent off at a microscopic 1/7 price tag on the day and he was well-backed again when he took the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on his seasonal debut. 

His connections have had him pointed at this race for quite a while and it’s going to be really tough to actually lock in a competitive price. Expect him quite short for this one, even on the ante post markets, as the undefeated gelding by Kendor looks to add another notch to his belt. The big question looks to be whether he will go right to the front and try to outrun the rest of the field or whether he’s going to be able to sit off the pace and help add to the front-end pressure. 

VERDICT: Tough to bet against Sprinter Sacre, but those looking to beat him will likely try William’s Wishes and Sanctuaire.