JNwine Champion Chase Betting Preview

The betting action is really starting to heat up at Down Royal ahead of this weekend's crunch Grade 1 clash – the Jnwine.com Champion Chase. It's going to be a particularly interesting race as several of the contenders here are using this contest as a seasonal debut. In fact, the top two selections in the ante post market are unraced since last year's festival season. This makes things intriguing as you wonder whether punters might favour those longer odds selections with a race or two under their belts.

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As it currently stands, Quito De La Roque is an across the board favourite with a price hovering between 9/4 and 5/2. He finished last year with four scores on the bounce – and a whopping six wins from seven races during his 2010/11 campaign.

His final contest came at Punchestown where he scored by 14 lengths over a solid field that included the likes of Quel Esprit (who was unfortunately brought down despite being the 7/4 favourite) as well as Reve De Sivola. He can run over various types of ground but his best work has come over good to yielding.

Bostons Angel is the second betting choice but not by a distinctive amount. Most bookmakers have him at 3/1 but he can be backed at 10/3 or even 7/2. He scored by a neck in the RSA Chase last year at a solid 16/1 price tag. He also bested Quito De La Roque back in December of 2010 at Punchestown. Despite being unraced this season, he may be in with a real shout based on form alone.

The Nightingale is a very competitive horse and is still relatively lightly-raced for an eight-year-old wih only 11 contests under his belt. He took a Grade 2 at Down Royal last year and hasn't been seen on the track since being pulled up in the King George VI Chase. A Paul Nicholls horse is always going to take money but he probably more of a wild card than his 4/1 price would suggest.

Sizing Europe is the real elephant in the room here and he won the Champion Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival. He can be backed as high as 5/1 and he's already got a race under his belt this year having scored at Gowran Park at even money.

Another with a race under his belt is Roi De Mee who beat perennial runner-up Forpadydeplasterer in a three horse field. He can be seen as high as 11/2 and represents a very interesting shout for those seeking a genuine spoiler.