2013 RSA Chase - Raceday Thoughts

*Assumed ground is g/s
** Assessment of Lyreen Legend has been delayed until confirmed for the race: he is held by Back In Focus, himself not a certain starter.

A wide open renewal featuring a clutch of talented horses that offer an eclectic mix of ages, preparations and abilities. Yet to the diversity of their profiles corresponds the near uniformity of what they offer at heart: strong, progressive staying metal. The exception to this may well be the favourite, Dynaste, who also has the option of the Jewson Novices Chase. As a grey with eye-catching speed and a supporting role behind Big Buck's, Dynaste is obviously compared to Grand Crus. The latter was the better hurdler and whilst Dynaste may do better over fences whether that will be seen as early as now, in an RSA Chase, is debatable. The demands of the race force horses to race from a considerable way out which makes racing behind the bridle a necessity: once the smoother running is done it is then all about heart, desire, pain and force of will over a brutal staying distance for a novice. This does not describe the racecourse evidence for Dynaste. He "quickened" away from Fingal Bay and an early-season Unioniste impressively over 21f in November and was still on the bridle when left in the lead four out at Newbury over 20f, allowing the resolute stayer Court In Motion (received 7lbs) to within 5L of him as a courtesy. The choice to go for the Feltham was an interesting one given that in so doing they were in part committing to the same route and preparation for the Festival as that chosen for Grand Crus. For Dynaste, the Feltham ground was heavy with two fences omitted and from a moderate gallop he injected pace nothing in the race could handle four out and settled the contest in seconds, eventually coasting home 9L clear of Hadrian's Approach. None of which will really matter when, faced with opponents primed for their big day also, they start to race and gallop and stay and won't go away: at that point somewhere after coming down the hill Dynaste will breathe and have no more to give whilst others will still be rolling and asking themselves to find even more for pressure. He would stand a much better chance in the Jewson but as a cautionary note overall it can be noted that David Pipe has saddled only one winner from 59 attempts in non-handicaps at the Festival.

Despite being a mere five years of age the French-bred Unioniste offers the prospect of more resolute staying power. He had already had eight racecourse starts prior to winning on debut as a 4yo at Aintree and then bumped into Dynaste in a small field on good to soft ground. The first ever 4yo winner of the prestigious December Gold Cup Handicap he beat the honest Walkon by 11L (21f, Heavy) to leave no room at all for underestimations of his ability and running power (by the strong stamina influence Dom Alco). Perhaps due to the presence of strong stayer Rocky Creek in the same stable that horse went to the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot (and won) and Unioniste was sent to Newbury for a five runner affair predominantly against the Feltham runner-up Hadrian's Approach over three miles on soft ground. He won all-out after Hadrian's Approach pecked two out costing him momentum just as he was beginning to really start rolling into his stride. Unioniste for his part kept galloping to the line for another excellent victory but it did suggest that, at this stage in his career, another half a furlong in a better race involving more of a war may not suit him ideally. He also has the option of the Jewson Novices Chase which, given his impressive win in December, may make more sense but his trainer seems intent on this race where his runners of late have failed to make any impression. Unioniste is clearly talented but without the weight concession enjoyed by Star De Mohaison he has a formidable task before him.

Boston Bob has hit the Festival podium already in defeat to the smart (ill-fated) Brindisi Breeze. In positive terms, the Albert Bartlett of 2011 was won by the 2012 RSA Chase winner despite the form of the race being poor. The race can be used as a stepping point for future staying chasers and Boston Bob is very much in the mould of a big strong staying type over fences. In that sense a 2L defeat on the quickest ground he had encountered all season by some way is a good run. However in terms of assessing the residual class of the run it is worth noting that the third, 25/1 shot Grand Vision, stayed with Boston Bob for much of the run-in to be only a length behind him in third. Grand Vision hasn't run since although the 4th, Lovecen (6L further back) has without distinction. During the race Boston Bob was unable to make any significant headway until deep into the race (he was still fifth last at halfway) where his class/ability took him past inferior horses despite him having to be niggled, cajoled and ridden some way out and the effects of making up this amount of ground took their toll as he had no more to give on the run-in. Chasing was always going to be much more favourable for this particular horse but unfortunately it appears that Boston Bob has been subject to training problems and he did not make the track until December 16 - quite late for an RSA candidate. His debut run was satisfactory as he encountered bottomless ground but again made stealthy late headway to be ridden and driven out in a tiring way to score by half a length from You Might Know Me, a horse subsequently beaten 22L on his next start (reported lame). Given that Boston Bob was found to be sore after the race it is possible that You Might Know Me was also feeling the effects in that race of his second placing just fifteen days earlier. Most of the expectation surrounding Boston Bob last season and this stems from gallops conducted by his trainer with the horse in company with Hurricane Fly and Quevega where Boston Bob was very comfortable. This gave connections evidence to suggest a high level of residual class but problems have arisen in guiding the horse to the heights they think capable. He reappeared for his second chase start in the premier Irish RSA Chase trial the G1 Moriarty (21f, Soft/Heavy) which he won in a blanket finish. Up in class his lack of physical strength from a troubled season revealed itself as he dropped behind the leading trio turning in only to dig deep and rally to claw back the field and get up on the line. Some of that "gallop" class is undoubtedly present - to win a competitive Grade One chase on his second start shows that clearly enough - yet connections of two of his rivals would more than likely feel that a re-match over an extended three miles would be in their favour and those two rivals are indeed scheduled to re-oppose (Lyreen Legend [4th] and Lord Windermere [3rd]). Boston Bob has raced just six times over obstacles at the age of eight: whilst his mind is willing it is open to doubt as to whether his body will cope.

There are, however, two candidates with proven stamina, heart, the requisite class and preparation allied to an iron will.

Lord Windermere won three of his six starts over hurdles last season and managed a 4th placing in the G1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle. He has been steadily improving through the season over fences and, despite only recording one win to date in a beginners chase he has yet to be beaten by anything more than 3L including a half length second to Texas Jack in a G2 and his half a length third to Boston Bob and Texas Jack in the Moriarty. Lord Windermere jumped well on his chase debut over two miles. There was a brisk pace on and the main group began racing from some way out. He sat fourth until moving through to take up the lead on the approach to the last where he started to look green or was perhaps idling and he reached for the last, costing him momentum, and Dylan Ross - a more exclusive 2m horse - accelerated beyond him on the run-in, LW sticking to his task well for second, the pair 9L clear. His next assignment was over 20f on heavy ground but this time against Michael D'Haguenet, with the pair pulling 34L clear of Madam Bovary. In the race itself MDH led the six runners with two departing in rear after halfway. MDH can still be assessed as a very useful small-field soft ground chaser: LW was able to stay close to MDH throughout the race although MDH's residual class was decisive in this contest. LW was ridden to close in on MDH round the final bend where his jumping remained precise and despite being unable to get to the winner he again ran through the line strongly. Lord Windermere's chase win came in a 12-runner 19f Beginner's Chase, beating Marasonnien by 2L. He again had no problem with the racing pace being prominent throughout but there was a lot to like about the performance. Jumping well until losing momentum at the third last he moved through to round the bend with a tight clutch of other rivals and got into a dangerous looking barging match between two opponents. He didn't appear bothered by this at all and when extricated by his jockey galloped on powerfully to clear the last and stay on well to the line, again giving the impression of idling with ears pricked.

With experience and the desired win on his record connections then sent him to contest a G2 at Leopardstown in a race that had a very solid overall look to the contest, with the form reproduced in the G1 Moriarty next time - the most important Irish trial for the RSA. Here the winner was the smooth travelling Texas Jack, who had previously failed to stay the 3m in a strong renewal of the G1 Topaz Novices Chase won by Back In Focus. Rounding the final bend here, Lord Windermere was the only horse being asked to race behind the bridle but as all four main players were asked to race - Texas Jack (1st), Marito (3rd), Mount Benbulben (4th) - it was Lord Windermere who stayed the strongest despite being 2L down after the last to press the winner on the line. In the Dr. P.J. Moriarty Lord Windermere and Texas Jack almost identically reproduced their previous runs, with Lyreen Legend (form with Boston Bob over hurdles) ensuring a solid gallop deep into the race and Boston Bob prevailing by a nose on the line. For Lord Windermere, it was notable how he was raced much more prominently from the start until a serious blunder nearly uprooting the third fence and almost losing his jockey. As hinted at before, however, the mistake didn't appear to be a bother to him and he continued to jump effectively and move well to the head of affairs (appeared to travel to the last fence better in this race than any previously) where again he battled with Texas Jack, a horse perhaps more suited to the here and now conditions of this trip and race. This was a fine RSA trial all told and runners from this race are to be respected if pitching up for the RSA. First port of call when assessing Lord Windermere overall therefore is Weapon's Amnesty who won only one of his five chase starts - and that in a very weak race at Newcastle - prior to a devastating RSA performance. Weapons Amnesty was second in a G1 Knight Frank and second in the Moriarty, and Lord Windermere has a similar profile: despite being unraced as yet at 3m (Weapons Amnesty had done so twice) he runs as if a combination of better ground, bigger field and stronger pace will see him to best advantage (whereas Texas jack may prove best at intermediate trips). Lord Windermere has collected 97 furlongs of race conditioning through the season and this in part is no doubt due to a hugely positive attitude he displays in his racing. A fascinating contender who looks equipped to lie up with the pace and give everything he has until the winning post is behind him. With a battle likely, he is high on the list.

Described as "a bit immature but an improver" by his jockey the racecourse evidence to date backs up this impression of HADRIAN'S APPROACH. Overall his jumping is good but the strength of mind to see out his task has cost him in two of his chases: challenging four out when coming down in a contest won by the unbeaten Harry Topper and a slight mistake on landing two out at Newbury when starting to unwind that checked his momentum failing by a short head to reel in the useful Unioniste at Newbury (bumped late also). In between those still commendable efforts he stuck to his task well to be 9L second to Dynaste at Kempton. Hadrian's Approach clearly tries very hard. His experience this season will help him with his obstacles but once over them his heart and his will is not in question and he possesses an engine to run hard to the line, evidenced notably by his win at Ascot despite his best attempts to hinder that outcome. His trainer has a fine recent record in this race and has wasted no time in preparing his horse for what appears to have been his clearly defined target with three consecutive starts at 3m in strong company. From the Feltham he has 9L to make up on Dynaste but probably no novice in training (bar Simonsig) could have coped with the pace injected into the race by that rival especially on heavy ground and the key to his chances of reversing that distance lies in the grueling, resolute stamina test of an RSA following three months where his rival has been inactive but where he has gained further race fitness and experience. For a slightly immature horse there is always a question mark about the ability to handle the heat of a G1 contest on an undulating track around which he has yet to be tested. This would be the biggest concern when assessing Hadrian's Approach, but both his form and progressive chase record indicate he is high on the list of contenders for this race, with a clear round perhaps highest of all.

Selections: HADRIAN'S APPROACH e/w & Lord Windermere e/w.