Savills Chase 2018 Betting Tips: Do Not Miss Road At 3/1

Steve Mullington

December 24th, 2018

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Quick Tips

• Back Road To Respect to Win at 3/1 with Betway
• Back Anibale Fly Each-Way at 9/1 with Bet365

Much attention is on the King George VI Chase, but over in Ireland there’s just as fierce a betting heat coming at Leopardstown on Friday: the Savills Chase.

Formerly known as the Lexus Chase, the Grade 1 3m chase has a long history of top class winners and Cheltenham Gold Cup success. Presenting Percy, just 4/1 with 888Sport for the Gold Cup, is the leading attraction in the Savills Chase betting too, priced at 3/1 with most online bookmakers.

Savills Chase Favourites

Presenting Percy may not run. Pat Kelly’s seven-year-old is a deserving Gold Cup favourite, but connections have stressed that they want easier ground for him to run in the Savills Chase.

In his absence Road To Respect (3/1 Betway) is a natural favourite. He won the race last year and was then a fine fourth in the Gold Cup, returning to action this season with a romp in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal. Good ground is also a notable plus for him and the race-fit title-holder goes into the Savills Chase with a big chance.

You can get 6/1 with most of our recommended bookmakers about Bellshill, the winner of the Punchestown Gold Cup last April. He has taken some big steps forward in a short space of time since finishing third in the RSA of 2017 and has as much talent as any contender. However, it remains to be seen if he takes to Leopardstown better than he did when favorite in the Flogas Novice Chase, when he fell as a beaten horse behind Disko.

>> Back Road To Respect to Win at 3/1 with Betway

Is There An Each-Way Bet?

There are a lot at this stage. Shattered Love was second that day and has since finished second to Min in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase. That is strong form and she could go well. She is currently 10/1 with Bet365 and that looks like a really generous price.

Anibale Fly, a 9/1 shot with Bet365, was third in the Gold Cup and then fourth in the Grand National. A course-and-distance winner, this is much more suitable than the Hilly Way Chase in which he was a well-beaten sixth last time ut, and he ought to be a big player.

Look back at his previous form and you will see that he was beaten on his return over 2m last year, before cruising home in the Paddy Power Chase. He is bound to be absolutely spot on for this.

>>Back Anibale Fly Each-Way at 9/1 with Bet365

What About A Savills Chase Longshot?

Monalee (10/1 Betfair) won the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown this year, beating Al Boum Photo, and was second in the RSA Chase, but he needs to be sharper than he was on his reappearance at Down Royal. It also remains to be seen if 3m is truly his distance on a stiff track.

Kemboy (14/1 888Sport) was a taking winner of the Clonmel Oil Chase and keeps on improving, although he was well beaten in the JLT Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Balko Des Flos has been somewhat of a letdown in two starts so far this season and will probably have to run a career-best to figure in this year’s renewal, but trainer Henry de Bromhead is however firing in the winners, left, right and centre.

If Balko Des Flos can pick up on that form, and you believe in the miracle of Christmas, then 25/1 (Paddy Power) is available on the seven-year-old.

>> Back Balko Des Flos Each-Way at 25/1 with Paddy Power