Keltbray Swinley Chase: Boy to score back from the bench

The Grade 1 Ascot Chase may be the most prestigious contest at the racecourse of the same name on Saturday, but the race makes very little appeal from a betting standpoint - Cue Card is a 9/4-on chance with the majority of firms - and there is enough action to get stuck into elsewhere on the card for that not to matter.

The Keltbray Swinley Chase usually attracts a relatively small field for a race of its kind and Sausalito Sunrise beat just four rivals when successful 12 months ago. However, the 2017 renewal looks set to buck the trend with 17 horses engaged at the five-day stage and there would appear to be plenty holding chances at this stage, with over half of the field currently trading at single figure odds.

Pleasant Company is, however, a clear market leader, and he could be a rare runner on these shores for Willie Mullins in 2017. Pleasant Company showed a smart level of form when winning two of his four starts as a novice chaser last season and shaped well when fourth on his seasonal debut in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park. He should improve with that first outing for nine months under his belt and is more unexposed than most in this field. Indeed, the British handicapper may have underestimated him with a mark of 149 and Pleasant Company looks sure to run well if lining up here.

The same comment applies to Go Conquer, who proved his effectiveness at this trip when three and a half lengths second on his most recent outing at Kempton and, would have finished even closer but for a bad mistake that halted his momentum two-out. The form of his earlier second at this venue is working out well (winner and fourth both successful since) and Go Conquer would have to be of interest if taking up this engagement.

Doctor Harper was disappointing when pulled-up on his most recent outing in the Classic Chase at Warwick, but that run was too bad to be true and he is better-judged on the form of his earlier second at Cheltenham. He proved better than ever when getting to within a short-head of Tour des Champs that day and should be competitive if reproducing that level of form here, although that is by no means guaranteed given his patchy record over fences to date.

Paul Nicholls is yet to win this race and has three horses entered this time round in the shape of Saphir du Rheu, Arpege d'Alene and Virak. The former produced his best effort over fences for some time when second at Cheltenham three weeks ago and still looks fairly well-treated when you consider the Gold Cup aspirations Nicholls had for him at the start of last season. Arpege d'Alene has the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as his main target and isn't sure to run here, while Virak is opposable having run well below form in all three starts this season.

Chef D'oeuvre relished the emphasis on stamina to open his account over fences at the fourth time of asking at Hereford two weeks ago, and that represented by far his best effort over the larger obstacles to date. He could hardly have been more impressive on that occasion and remains open to more improvement after just four starts over fences. However, it remains to be seen what the form of that latest effort is worth with his rivals all underperforming on the day, and Chef D'oeuvre has plenty to prove now returned to more competitive company. 

Last year's winner Sausalito Sunrise and Yala Enki are others to mention, although the former is 5 lb higher in the weights now and this looks a far deeper renewal than when winning 12 months ago. Yala Enki showed a smart level of form when scoring at Haydock on his first start over fences in Britain, and may have found the race coming too soon when disappointing just nine days later at Wetherby. He has been given plenty of time to recover from those exertions, but is perhaps more likely to wait for next weekend's BetBright Chase at Kempton (won Lanzarote Hurdle at the track in 2016).

Indeed, the proximity of that contest muddies the waters somewhat here and, many of the horses already discussed share that engagement. Pleasant Company is not among them, but Willie Mullins' runners in Britain have been few and far between this season and he isn't sure to make the trip across the Irish Sea. He would appear to hold sound claims if doing so, but preference is for the Rebecca Curtis-trained O'Faolains Boy.

O'Faolains Boy beat none other than Many Clouds when landing the Reynoldstown Chase on this card in 2014 and improved further to follow up in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham next time. His career has been plagued by injury problems since, but he showed plenty of his ability remains intact when winning a graduation chase and finishing seventh in the Gold Cup last season (shaped well for a long way). He has been off the track for the best part of a year, but there is no doubt he is potentially very well-treated on his best form and - 9 lb clear on Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings - O'Faolains Boy looks worth a small bet in an open heat.

Recommendation:

Back O'Faolains Boy in the Keltbray Swinley Chase at Ascot