Victor Chandler Chase 2006

Saturday's Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham (2.10) features a clash between some battle hardened pros such as Armaturk and Mister McGoldrick, and some unexposed types, most notably Albuhera and Dempsey. Fresh from a spellbinding six-timer at Wincanton last weekend, confidence in the Paul Nicholls camp is bound to be high and, as such, his first string and clear market leader for this Grade 2 handicap, Albuhera, looks the one to beat. However, it was hard not to be taken with Dempsey's performance on his reappearance at Sandown and he looks the one to be on at the generally available 11-2. For a horse having his first outing for the best part of eight months, Dempsey produced an exhilarating display at that Esher venue and demonstrated an elan for jumping which will stand him in good stead when he is faced with the 14 daunting fences that await at Prestbury Park this weekend. Always in the firing line, Mark Pitman's charge showcased his ability to draw the sting out of his rivals with his tactical pace. Indeed, the eight-year-old had his rivals on the stretch for much of the final mile that day and, approaching the second-last, he had the race in safekeeping. Although Tikram made good late headway to be beaten just half-a-length into second, Dempsey was value for a good deal more than the winning margin and, with just a 4lb penalty to shoulder, he could be well treated for this two-mile, half-a-furlong contest. Chief danger Albuhera has made a seamless transition from hurdling to the larger obstacles, hence his trainer's willingness to pitch him against far more experienced rivals while a novice. However, he has yet to prove that he is up for a battle, and it's a battle he will be faced with when he tries to overhaul Dempsey. All of Albuhera's victories have been achieved without him having to dig deep into his reserves, and I'm not sure that he's the type of horse that will find a great deal when the chips are down at the end of a strongly-run handicap chase at Cheltenham. Mister McGoldrick, who ran a fine race in defeat when second to Al Eile over timber at Haydock last Saturday, beat Albuhera by 12 lengths in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby where Oneway was a disappointing third, a further distance adrift. Albuhera meets the winner on 11lb better terms and could easily reverse the placings, although Oneway faces a stiff task meeting Mister McGoldrick on 3lb worse terms. The fourth in that contest, Fundamentalist, is entitled to improve for what was his first run for the best part of a year, but it remains to be seen whether he is still the horse that he was before sustaining an injury last January. Town Crier landed a decent chase at Newbury off an 8lb lower mark before warming up for this by scooting up over hurdles at Wetherby earlier this month. Despite being an eleven-year-old, he is still improving. On the downside, he is prone to the odd mistake, and jumping at speed around Cheltenham might be test too stiff for him. Irish raider Ground Ball has been the subject of good ante-post support and merits respect. But he has a fair bit to find on recent form and I couldn't fancy him in this event judged on his effort over course and distance last month where he jumped slowly and came home nearly 10 lengths fourth to Tysou.