Horseracing betting: Racing Post Chase

Trainers have heaved a sigh of relief in the lead-up to the Racing Post Chase at Kempton. The defections of the likes of Exotic Dancer, Madison du Berlais and Celestial Gold has meant that the field now runs in the handicap proper - meaning that all the horses carry the weights that they should be running on. Click here for a free £100 to bet on horseracing with VCbet It's a massive relief also for Dr Richard Newland, trainer of last year's Coral Cup hero Burntoakboy, who makes the line-up thanks to those defections. Burtoakboy carried just 10st 2lbs in Kempton's 3m feature, and Newland is expecting a big run thanks largely due to his gelding's magnificent performance in running big-race favourite Gungadu to a length and a quarter at Sandown 21 days ago. It was only in the final furlong that Gungadu confirmed his superiority, and considering that this contest is half a furlong shorter, and not run up Sandown's punishing hill, there will be those who will be rushing for VCbet's best-price of 10/1. Oh, and Burntoakboy is also better off in the weights with that rival as well. It's another Saturday and Paul Nicholls unsurprisingly trains another favourite. Gungadu is as short as 7/2, although VCbet are again sticking their heads above the parapet and go 9/2. In fact, at the time of writing, the firm are best-priced about eight of the 15-runner field, which means punters should head straight to their website should they fancy a punt of this race. Curiously, of the first six in the betting, they are not best-price about last year's winner, Simon. Regular rider Andrew Thorton takes the mount again, but the nine-year-old hasn't got his head in front since beating Cornish Sett by ten lengths in this event 12 months ago. He has actually gone up two pounds in the handicap since that victory, which given his current form, probably puts paid to his chances. Although Burntoakboy is clearly a fancy, the horse who looks most over-priced is Dream Alliance. Phillip Hobbs and jockey Richard Johnson team up again to line-up the horse that finished second to the might Denman in the Hennessey in December. Sure he was 11-lengths shy of Stan James's current Gold Cup joint-favourite, but he had subsequent impressive winners D'Argent and Knowhere firmly in his wake that day. Dream Alliance then struggled markedly in the soft going in the Welsh National before going to Exeter as 2/1 favourite to win a class two chase. Clearly in the lead, and two from home, Dream Alliance tried to take the fence with him to the winner's enclosure, and if that fall hasn't affected him, the 16/1 with VCbet (again!) looks massive each-way value, particularly with Johnson winning this race four times in the last ten years. Verdict: 2pts each way Dream Alliance @ 16/1 (VCbet) Click here for a free £100 to bet on horseracing with VCbet