Savills Chase Preview: Going down a familiar Road

Friday’s feature race – formerly known as the Lexus Chase – was run as the Leopardstown Christmas Chase for the first (and only) time 12 months ago, but the outcome was still the same, with one carrying the Gigginstown colours coming out on top for a fourth year in succession.

The winner that day, Road To Respect, heads another strong team in the maroon and white silks for this year’s renewal, though there are no shortage of dangers hoping to get their hands on the increased prize money of €175,000 for a race now known as the Savills Chase.

Road To Respect established himself as a top-class chaser last season, most notably when winning this race by one and a quarter lengths from Balko des Flos, and he improved again after seven months off when winning the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal last time, putting up a performance out of the ordinary in beating Woodland Opera by 16 lengths. Still only a seven-year-old, he could yet have more to offer and would appear to hold strong claims of defending his crown. Balko des Flos has been a bit disappointing in two starts so far this season, including when well held at Down Royal, and he will probably need a career best to figure in what looks a deeper renewal than 12 months ago.

All class - Road To Respect wins the Grade 1 @jnwine Champion Chase! @Downroyal pic.twitter.com/uIREwy5lIF

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 3, 2018

A stablemate of Road To Respect, Disko looked destined for the top when recording a pair of Grade 1 wins as a novice chaser in 2016/17. However, he hasn’t been seen since also landing at Grade 2 on last season’s reappearance at Down Royal, and this looks a stiff ask on his return from 14 months off. The pick of the remaining Gigginstown entries would appear to be the Gordon Elliott-trained pair Outlander and Shattered Love. The former won this race in 2016 and is yet to finish out of the first three in four previous starts at this venue, while Shattered Love, who won a Grade 1 novice chase over C&D at this meeting 12 months ago, shaped as if needing to go back up in trip when chasing home Min in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown last time.

Willie Mullins could also be mob-handed – he is responsible for five of the 21 entries at the time of writing – with Al Boum Photo and Bellshill appealing as his best chances of a second win in this race. The former was a high-class novice in 2017/18 and remains open to more improvement after just six starts over fences, especially if brushing up on his jumping (fell twice last term), while Bellshill ended last season with a career best when winning the Punchestown Gold Cup. That effort identified him as one who could make a big impact in this division in the months ahead, and he must be high on any shortlist here.

Bellshill wins the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup! @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/996bXmEb5h

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 25, 2018

Similar comments apply to Presenting Percy, who won four times last season and signed off with a dominant victory in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham (by seven lengths from Monalee). Currently vying for favouritism for the Gold Cup back there in March, he must be a big player if making his belated return here, though the prospect of quick ground could scupper that once again (missed several engagements recently). Monalee was a Grade 1 winner himself last term, when landing the Flogas Novices’ Chase here (by three quarters of a length from Al Boum Photo, Invitation Only third), but the balance of his form suggests that he could be vulnerable for win purposes.

Others to note include the J.P. McManus-owned pair Anibale Fly and Edwulf, both of whom are entitled to strip fitter for their recent returns over insufficient trips. The former won the Paddy Power Chase from a mark of 148 at this meeting last year and went on to finish third in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, while Edwulf was pulled up in this race 12 months ago, before showing much improved form to win the Irish Gold Cup back over C&D (by a neck from Outlander) on his next start.

In summary, Presenting Percy would be a big threat if lining up with further progress on the cards, but he will need to improve if he is to trouble the likes of Road To Respect, and with little to separate them in the betting, it is last year’s winner who rates the more solid proposition. Most impressive on his return at Down Royal, he could yet have more to offer in his own right and is fancied to prove himself a bona-fide Cheltenham Gold Cup contender (fourth last year) with a repeat success.

The other Grade 1 on the card is the Christmas Hurdle, for which there is another rematch in prospect. Apple’s Jade and Supasundae fought out a terrific finish 12 months ago, with the former ultimately getting the verdict by half a length, and it would be no surprise if that pair were bang there again at the finish come 1.50pm on Friday.

Admittedly, Apple’s Jade lost her way after winning this race last term, but she has arguably returned better than ever this term, producing a career-best performance to win her third straight renewal of the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last time, when beating Supasundae by 20 lengths, the biggest margin of victory in the 25-year history of that race. On that performance alone she deserves to be an odds-on favourite to retain her crown here, and, already an eight-time Grade 1 winner, she looks sure to take plenty of stopping as she attempts to become the first dual winner of this race since it was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2013.

Superstar - what a performance from Apple's Jade, winner of the @BarOneRacing Hatton's Grace Hurdle for the third time! @Fairyhouse pic.twitter.com/nwoaoTjJkB

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 2, 2018

Supasundae looks held by Apple’s Jade when both are on-song – the score from their previous meetings is currently 3-0 in the mare’s favour – and it could well be that Benie des Dieux and Faugheen emerge as the biggest threats this time round for the Willie Mullins/Rich Ricci axis.

Benie des Dieux took advantage of Apple’s Jade’s off days to win Grade 1s at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals last season, and remains open to more improvement with three miles likely to prove well within her change, while Faugheen showed himself to still be capable of high-class form when winning the Champion Stayers’ Hurdle on his final 2017/18 start, also at the Punchestown Festival. He is becoming increasingly difficult to predict, however, and was unable to take advantage of what looked a good opportunity on his return in the Morgiana Hurdle; the return to three miles needs to spark a revival in his fortunes.

Recommended bets:

Back Road To Respect to win the Savills Chase at 3/1