William Hill Handicap Chase Betting Preview

The Henry Daly-trained Alderburn looks well worth backing at 8/1 with VCBet for the William Hill Handicap Chase on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday. The seven-year-old was having just his third start over fences when demonstrating a good mix of pace and stamina when beating subsequent winner Compo by a cosy five-lengths in a novices' handicap at Huntingdon where he looked well suited by genuine good ground, which he is likely to encounter again at Prestbury Park. Although the pace was not terribly strong in that race - and Alderburn's jumping will be put under a lot more pressure in this Grade Three event - the son of Champion Hurdle winner Alderbrook looks a safe enough conveyance to hold his own at this higher level. Indeed, he possesses far more scope than the lions share of his rivals in this event and, if, as expected, Richard Johnson gets a good tune out of him, I reckon he will have too much toe for his rivals in the closing stages. The one he has to beat is clearly French raider Moulin Riche, who is favourite with virtually every bookmaker for this race, and has been the subject of good ante-post support. Furthermore, he hails from Francois Doumen's stable, which sent out last year's winner of this race, Kelami. The six-year-old wasn't far off the best staying novices over timber last season and, off a mark of 132, he doesn't look badly treated at all. He was jumping English fences for the first time when beaten by another Henry Daly charge, King Bee, at Haydock where the testing conditions probably weren't ideal. Moulin Riche has an awful lot going for him and is bound to be on the premises, but I still think that Alderburn will prove too quick on the run-in. Irish raider Dun Doire continues to go from strength to strength and was completing a five-timer when proving too strong for Coljon in the valuable Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park in January. He will be a threat to all but, off a mark 14lb higher than for that last win, I can't help thinking that he will be vulnerable to something better handicapped. A similar remark can be extended to the top weights, Lacdoudal and My Will, both of whom have plenty of ability but, by the same token, neither have found winning easy under their current ratings and they look set to be playing for places at best. Of Martin Pipe's entries, Korelo is the most interesting. Extremely well handicapped on his hurdles form, the French-bred gelding ran a fine race in defeat when under two lengths third to Philson Run in the totesport Eider Chase at Newcastle where the combination of the heavy going and 4m 1f trip may have made for too much of a stamina test. He should make his presence felt if putting in a clear round.