Victor Chandler Chase Betting analysis

Dempsey was a confident selection to land the Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham last Saturday before the meeting was abandoned due to frost. However, now that the race has been re-routed to Sandown this weekend, he is even more appealing and simply must be backed at the generally available 9-2 (VCBet) The reason for the increased confidence is Dempsey's proven effectiveness at the Esher venue. Indeed, two starts over Saturday's course and distance have resulted in two impressive victories, most notably on his seasonal reappearance last month when he made light of a near 10-month absence to readily account for Tikram by half-a-length. Sure, the latter will enjoy a 4lb pull on Saturday, but Dempsey was value for more than the actual winning margin and is taken to confirm the placings. Mark Pitman's charge jumped Sandown's tricky fences with complete aplomb and, having had just eight starts over fences, there is every reason to believe that the eight-year-old is open to considerable improvement. Paul Nicholls' horses have been carrying all before them this season and Albuhera, one of four entries from his stable at the five-day stage, is bound to have his supporters. It is indicative of his flair for jumping that the Ditcheat handler is prepared to pitch this inexperienced novice against battle-hardened handicappers. But, overall, I am not convinced. When reviewing Albuhera's victories the question that keeps popping up in my mind is whether he will have the appetite for a fight. Indeed, he is a strong traveller and all of his wins over fences have been gained without having to dig deep. The poser is, therefore, will he have the requisite minerals to outbattle a tough cookie like Dempsey. Personally, I doubt it. Tikram meanwhile is a tricky customer who needs things to fall just right. There can be no doubting his class, but I can't help thinking that two miles is a trip a shade too sharp for him, as he takes a while to warm to his task. Town Crier appears to be improving despite being 11. He landed a strongly-run event at Newbury before skating up over hurdles at Wetherby last time when beating a decent bunch with minimal effort. He could well emerge as the principal threat to the selection, although he is prone to the odd blunder and I just wander whether his jumping will hold up over Sandown's obstacles, especially the daunting railway fences which come thick and fast down the back straight. Stablemate Mister McGoldrick has plenty of class and ran a cracking race in defeat over hurdles subsequent to beating Albuhera by 12 lengths in the Castleford Chase at his beloved Wetherby over Christmas. However, the latter wouldn't have been as suited to the testing conditions as the winner and, on 13lb better terms, should exact revenge this time.