Lexus Chase Betting Preview

While Best Mate has comprehensively beaten Beef Or Salmon on each of the three occasions they have crossed swords, Henrietta Knight's multiple Gold Cup-winning charge is no value at all at around the 4-7 mark and, moreover, no longer looks invincible.Best Mate scraped home in untidy fashion when short-heading Seebald at Exeter last time and, although that was his seasonal reappearance, you would expect him to beat an exposed rival, rated 19lb inferior, with a little bit more authority.It may sound like clutching at straws given that the nine-year-old was beaten on his reappearance last season, but at least on that occasion, which was in Huntingdon's Peterborough Chase, he came up against an improving race-fit rival, was running on unsuitably sticky ground, and over an inadequate trip.At Exeter, however, he simply did not pull away from his rival in the manner you would expect. Giving Seebald just 4lb, over a trip that stretches that rivals stamina to the limit, we should have witnessed something more spectacular - especially if we are to believe this horse can notch up a fourth Gold Cup come March.Step forward Beef Or Salmon. Although he sometimes puts in the odd below par run - like when a well-held third to Best Mate in this race last year - he is a horse of undeniable talent, and could well upset the Best Mate roller coaster this time.Trainer Michael Hourigan voiced fears regarding Beef Or Salmon's fitness ahead of his the two and-a-half miles John Durkan Chase, before which he met with a training setback. Connections decided to take a chance, but the writing was on the wall some way out. The eight-year-old was never travelling as well as he usually does, nor was he jumping with the élan we know he is capable of, and he finished a well-beaten third to Kicking King.However, on his penultimate start, which was over the Lexus Chase trip of three-miles, Beef Or Salmon dished out a cosy three and-a-half lengths beating to Kicking King at Down Royal. A reproduction of that effort - or his scintillating hammering of top class rivals in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April - and we are looking at a horse that can indeed lower the colours of Best Mate.Harbour Pilot is capable of making them all go, despite having a bit to find on the book. He was just under two lengths behind Best Mate when third in the Gold Cup in March and, if he is back to his best after an indifferent run last time when pulled up, he would not be without a squeak.Pizarro has a touch of class and made a pleasing comeback when third to Chives at Haydock recently. Edward O'Grady's charge developed into a leading staying novice chaser last term, a season that culminated in him being brought down two out when still holding a chance in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Festival. The main concern surrounding him is that he often takes chances at his fences, something that will cost him dearly at this level.