Tanya Stevenson: Great Yorkshire Chase & Betfair Hurdle Ante-Post Preview
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Let’s put Cheltenham to one side, it's like a detox and refreshes the mind. Especially when there are some great races coming up that should get the recognition they deserve. Fingers crossed the weather doesn’t intervene as horse racing betting sites have odds at the ready.
I'm a huge fan of the Great Yorkshire Chase reminiscing over winners such as 1982 Bregawn, 1990 Man O’Magic, Young Hustler in ’93, Addington Boy ’96, Big Fella Thanks in ’09, and last year Cooper’s Cross.
In fact, the first three home from last year are all entered and could very well turn up again. Their form is so different this time around, Coopers Cross has pulled up on his last two runs.
Cap Du Nord, last year’s runner-up, will be bidding to win at the fourth attempt.
Now, he didn’t run too badly last time at Newbury, two furlongs shy of this race’s trip, and considering Jay Jay Reilly was not far in front of him, he is sure to run his normal game race.
The third Elvis Mail will prefer the configuration of Doncaster to that of the undulations of Cheltenham and can also bounce back. However, I prefer to seek out a progressive sort who could improve beyond those getting themselves well-handicapped.
From the 53 entries, there are only three six-year-olds, Atlanta Brave, Victorrino, and La Malmason.
The latter won a Mares Handicap Chase in December which has not worked out at all well as yet from the few who have put in subsequent runs.
Venetia Williams's run at the time of writing has come to an abrupt halt for now but I'm sure it will kick on again in due course.
That leaves Atlanta Brave who I tipped to win the Mandarin Handicap Chase on only his third chase run.
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He nearly did it I just think his inexperience counted against him and he did make a crucial error down the back straight at Newbury.
Even though he went down to just three-quarters of a length in the end it left me so enthused about what the future may hold.
Now there is the realisation that there are a few negatives for him in this, the last six-year-old to win was 1993 Young Hustler and he was having his 10th race over the bigger obstacles at Doncaster!
It will be Atlanta Brave’s fourth. He has yet to win over fences but he has put in a massive run at Newbury.
If rewinding to 2009 Big Fella Thanks was having his fifth run over the chase fences in the Great Yorkshire Chase and like Atlanta Brave he had failed to win over the bigger obstacles before then. Next on to Atlanta Brave’s trainer Kerry Lee.
She ran Storm Control in the race in 2022 who was clear two out and even after the last but was heartbreakingly overhauled by Windsor Avenue. Last year she had the fifth Demachine, who will have an entry again in 2023.
But it flags up the fact it’s a race that has been nearly but not quite until now.
Kerry has dipped under the radar to some extent as across the last nine seasons the stable has shown a level stake profit on six occasions. For the last three seasons, she has shown a 19% strike rate or better.
It’s 24% this season her best yet, and I get the inclination a big handicap is coming. She won the Welsh Champion Hurdle with Nemean Lion, who then finished fifth in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham and ran another brilliant race on Saturday when second in the Lanzarote at Kempton.
She had the fourth in the Welsh Grand National with Not Sure, (a third runner for her entered for this) and as already stated a second in the Mandarin with Atlanta Brave. She’s placing them well, but you’d expect nothing less.
The Great Yorkshire Chase as a race itself is very deceptive as it's not for those trying to get away with staying three miles. They might be able to at Aintree on the Mildmay course or Kempton, but Doncaster seems to bring stamina into the equation.
Atlanta Brave has stamina in abundance. He races with maturity beyond belief, it's hard to rush him over his fences, yet he pops over them so economically.
The way Richard Patrick was able to steer him into contention was a joy to behold and a similar run at Doncaster would be ideal. I sense although this is a further step or maybe two steps up in class and tempo he will be able to overcome it and could be that deserved big day again for Kerry.
Two weeks on from that will be the Betfair Hurdle, Nicky Henderson has won it five times and both Gary Moore and Nigel Twiston-Davies have won it three times.
Only two of the last 10 favourites with betting sites have won, and it had been dominated by five and six-year-olds that was until the last two years when those aged seven have obliged. The last horse to win older than seven was Geos aged nine in 2004.
I'm going to go against all the trends for this Newbury race. The horse at this early stage that I have picked out is aged eight, likely to be a fair price, it finished fourth beaten 17 lengths last time out and last ran over hurdles in October 2022!
His hurdle rating is 10 below his chase rating, and there we have it, he last ran on December 16. It’s Calico. He has been chasing and doing well as well. He races keenly but the pace they’ll go at Newbury will help him.
What a Saturday six-timer for Dan Skelton topped by the victory of Jay Jay Reilly in the Lanzarote Hurdle. Calico is under the same ownership and Jay Jay Reilly had been chasing as well before his success at Kempton.
Calico is one of five entries for Dan Skelton in the race and for me at this stage the best value. It would be ideal if Tristan Durrell got the mount to utilise his claim.
Remember Calico was the horse to give Jonbon a scare at Warwick in the two-runner Kingmaker Novices Chase almost a year ago.
The handicapper hasn’t made life easy over bigger obstacles this season, but he can exploit the much lower mark over hurdles.
He wouldn’t want it soft but the long-range forecast at least to the end of January is for rising temperatures and then here’s hoping for it to be no worse than good to soft.
He has to be worth an interest each-way with betting apps for the Betfair Hurdle.
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