RSA Chase â Analysis
An excellent entry of 49 has been received for the Grade One RSA Chase, the highlight of The Festival for staying novice chasers which takes place on Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 13.
Dynaste, trained by David Pipe, has carried all before him in his three starts over fences, recording victories at Cheltenham and Newbury before an impressive nine-length success in the Grade One Feltham Novicesâ Chase at Kempton Park over Christmas.
Pipeâs three entries are completed by course scorer Our Father and Goulanes, who has yet to jump a fence in public but showed a tenacious attitude when winning an extended three-mile Listed hurdle at Cheltenham in November.
Rocky Creek is one of three entries for Paul Nicholls and justified his lofty reputation with an easy 15-length win in a competitive novice chase at Warwick. He could be joined by progressive stablemate Unioniste, winner of the Paul Stewart IronSpine Charity Challenge Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December, and course and distance winner Sire Collonges.
Donald McCain has entered course winner Super Duty and lightly-raced eight-year-old Real Milan, who is two from two over fences, while Venetia Williams may be represented by Grade Two Rising Stars Novicesâ Chase victor Houblon Des Obeaux.
Highland Lodge, a wide-margin winner for trainer Emma Lavelle at the course in December when beating Our Father by 22 lengths, has been entered, while last yearâs successful trainer Nicky Henderson could rely on Feltham Novicesâ Chase runner-up Hadrianâs Approach.
There is likely to be a strong Irish assault on the RSA Chase in 2013 with 22 of the 49 entries being trained across the Irish Sea.
Back In Focus is one of nine entries for Willie Mullins and made it three from three over fences when beating stable mate Aupcharlie in the Grade One Topaz Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Mullins has also entered Boston Bob, who won the Grade One Navan Novice Hurdle last season and was narrowly denied by Brindisi Breeze in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novicesâ Hurdle at The Festival. Other notable Mullins entries include Grade One scorers Marasonnien and Mikael dâHaguenet, who won the Neptune Investment Management Novicesâ Hurdle at The Festival in 2009.
Dessie Hughes has his team in fine form this season and he could be represented by Troytown Chase hero Tofino Bay and high-class hurdler Lyreen Legend, who has made a promising start to his chasing career, while Tony Martin could run Grade One winning hurdler Dedigout.
Gordon Elliott has made a trio of entries headed by the highly-regarded Mount Benbulben and Toner dâOudairies, who finished second in last seasonâs Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeyâs Hurdle.