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He’ll be expected to make all again here on Saturday and if he is genuinely up to his best then it’s very difficult to look past him.
His main rival appears to be Cue Card - one of the usual suspects - and he comes into the race fresh off a Grade 2 victory at Wetherby where he triumphed over a solid field of seven by a nearly four-length margin. It’s obviously worth noting that he has the distinction of having actually won this race before and powering ahead of SIlviniaco Conti on the day as well certainly will add some credence for those who think he is going to be able to beat Paul Nicholls chasing superstar.
He beat some great runners that day with the likes of Long Run, The Giant Bolster, Bobs Worth, Tidal Bay and Dynaste all in the mix...
We have a stellar card of jumps action ahead of us on Saturday and there is a lot to look forward to already since the ante post markets for several of the graded contests are already up and firing across virtually all major UK and Irish bookmakers at the moment.
The Betfair Chase is the Grade 1 highlight of the entire day and there are plenty keeping their eyes firmly fixed on this one as the smaller field doesn’t negate the prospect of a very exciting renewal of this prestigious National Hunt contest. Many expect this year to be a real renaissance for the staying chaser division and we could see a big bonus paid out if somebody can capture all of the big jewels over 3m and proper fences.
If it’s going to happen anywhere it’s certainly...
He finished dead last in his last outing - a listed contest at Sha Tin and he was absolutely tepid on the board that day with a 70/1 price tag. It’s tough to know where the form is going to come from but he has won the race in the past - ironically enough it was in this exact race.
Free Eagle is out for this one and the son of High Chaparral has been off the track since a sixth place finish in the Arc De Triomphe. He’s been up against Golden Horn in both of his last two but made a big impression when out-duelling The Grey Gatsby at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’ Stakes when sent off as the 5/2 betting favourite for that one.
He is getting some solid support in the ante post markets as he trades around a 5/1 margin but it will be...
There is a genuinely exciting group of challengers coming together to run the 2015 Hong Cup Vase at Sha Tin on the Hong Kong International Races day in mid-December. With plenty to look forward to in this 1m4f turf contest, we will see a number of respected international runners all link up in a race that promises to be an absolute classic.
The market is currently being headlined by Flintshire, who was last seen finishing second to Golden Horn at Longchamp in the 2015 Arc De Triomphe. Sent off on the day at a hefty price of 20/1 he delivered in a big way for the each-way punters and build up a fairly solid body of work over the last two years - punching it out amongst the best the world has to offer at his distance.
He has been taking on some of the best in the world but the fact remains that Peniaphobia will need to step it up in a big way if he expects to tangle with the type of talent that will be on offer here by the time we run the Hong Kong Sprint on International Day.
Terravista has to be looked on as a solid wildcard here with a relatively enticing price in the ante post markets. Currently trading at a 9/1 margin with most major bookmakers this one has the distinction of being one of the few horses in this contest (or anywher, really) to have beaten Chautauqua beforehand. He got the better of him in a race at Flemington last year but only by a neck - ironically he was trading at 9/1 on the day there as well.
Sole Power is trading at around 16/1 right now with several bookmakers currently floating ante post markets on this race and he was last seen finishing a disappointing ninth at Longchamp on the Arc De Triomphe undercard in the Group 1 Prix De L’Abbaye. He took a Group 2 race at The Curragh prior to that but it remains his only victory this season save the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup Day undercard.
He has proven that he can run at Sha Tin, though he didn’t do so hot last year with a ninth place finish well behind Aerovelocity despite being sent out of the gates at an 8/1 margin. Look for him to be a factor here as the pattern of his races - and a recent jockey change to Chris Hayes - indicates that he could have more in store on the big Sunday...
Sole Power is trading at around 16/1 right now with several bookmakers currently floating ante post markets on this race and he was last seen finishing a disappointing ninth at Longchamp on the Arc De Triomphe undercard in the Group 1 Prix De L’Abbaye. He took a Group 2 race at The Curragh prior to that but it remains his only victory this season save the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup Day undercard.
He has proven that he can run at Sha Tin, though he didn’t do so hot last year with a ninth place finish well behind Aerovelocity despite being sent out of the gates at an 8/1 margin. Look for him to be a factor here as the pattern of his races - and a recent jockey change to Chris Hayes - indicates that he could have more in store on the big Sunday...
This year’s iteration of the Hong Kong International Races is looking especially appealing and the Hong Kong Sprint has proven time and again that it is able to deliver an exciting race and some great payouts for punters who are able to decipher this tricky puzzle. Expect a similar scenario to many other years where you have a significant favourite who stands atop the field like a colossus looming over this one. Chautauqua is certainly not to be trifled with in this contest but you have to assume there are plenty who will try and beat him.
The way it looks right now the bookmakers have Chautauqua trading an at odds-on price of about 10/11 right now depending on whom you’re wagering with. It’s going to be fascinating to see what odds he goes off at in the...
The punters certainly didn’t think he was being sent out to win that particular race as the betting markets had him trading at an 11/1 price tag to win on his first effort of the local season. Prior to that he has ended off his 2014/15 campaign with an unsuccessful second place to Dan Excel at Kranji in the Singapore Airlines International Cup, which is also a Group 1 contest.
The punters certainly didn’t think he was being sent out to win that particular race as the betting markets had him trading at an 11/1 price tag to win on his first effort of the local season. Prior to that he has ended off his 2014/15 campaign with an unsuccessful second place to Dan Excel at Kranji in the Singapore Airlines International Cup, which is also a Group 1 contest.
