Totesport.com Classic Chase Betting tips

D'Argent, runner-up in the penultimate renewal of the totesport Classic Chase at Warwick, is favourite to go one better in this year's renewal of the three-mile-five-furlong contest. Alan King has his string in fine fettle and it was an excellent training performance to produce D'Argent to land a valuable contest at Cheltenham last month following an injury-induced absence of 629 days. Off a 6lb higher mark, the ten-year-old remains feasibly handicapped and he is clearly the one to beat. However, with the going likely to be extremely testing, this could turn into a slog and I am inclined to side with something further down the weights. In receipt of over a stone from D'Argent, I reckon that the Carl Llewellyn-trained Snakebite is well worth backing at a generous looking 9/1 with the sponsors. First season trainer Llewellyn is also going great guns at present and Snakebite looks a horse going places. Having demonstrated plenty of ability in bumpers and over timber, Snakebite has always been held in high regard, and has always looked like an embryonic chaser. After seeing the hind quartets of Denman on his first two starts over fences, the seven-year-old took full advantage of a drop in class when skating up at Folkestone last time out. Admittedly, the selection is still a novice and is unproven over this trip, but he boasts a pedigree which is rich in stamina. Furthermore, the grey is proven under testing conditions, jumps like a seasoned chaser rather than a horse who has just had three starts over the larger obstacles, and he might just be chucked in off a handicap mark of 126. Ground and trip will hold no fears for Venetia Williams' Mon Mome, who ran an absolute screamer when chasing home the classy Halcon Generlardais in the Welsh National at Chepstow over the Christmas period. He merits the utmost respect, but I suspect that he'll fine one or two too good - or at least better handicapped. Naunton Brook and L'aventure, fifth and seventh respectively in the Welsh National, are both capable of posting bold bids, while Kinburn, who was pulled up in that marathon race, is much better than that showing indicates. However, while I am tempted by Howard Johnson's charges, as he rates value at 14/1, he makes too many mistakes for my liking and, until his jumping is consistently sound, he'll be vulnerable at this level. Verdict - 1pt Snakebite @ 9/1 (totesport)