Grade Two Cotswold Chase Guide 2022

Chantry House was pulled up last time out in the King George reportedly hating the track. Prior to that he won an uncompetitive 2 runner race at Sandown, simply jumping round.

He is back to calmer waters here and at a track he's 2/4. His two biggest wins to date have been the Marsh Chase at the festival and the Mildmay at Aintree, both at Grade 1 level.

You could argue he was fortunate to win these, as he managed to pick up the pieces after Envoi Allen (4/9F) came down at the festival, and Espoir De Romay also fell at Aintree when really serving it up to him.

He is a high class horse nonetheless and should appreciate the drop back to Grade 2 company today and he will look to regain the winning thread ahead of a possible Gold Cup tilt.

The class act of the field and the horse to beat.

A Paul Nicholls trained horse now, formerly of Harry Whittington, Simply The Betts is looking to get his career back on track. His last win was at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020 but since his form figures are - 66PU2. 

His second to the well handicapped Vienna Court was a good effort, with the two pulling 10L clear from the third. On this step up to Grade 2 level he doesn't look to be completely out of place, at a course he runs well at. 

Only three pounds to find with Chantry House and could be the one that gives the latter most to think about, definite chance.

Who doesn't love a front runner?! Aye Right is a tough horse to pass when he's on song. He demonstrated this last time out at Newcastle when gamely defeating Good Boy Bobby in a well strung out field over 3m.

He doesn't have the best record in graded races, but this does look one of the weaker top class races he's been a part of. 

He has form figures of 51 this season but hasn't been seen since November, could this have been the target, or is this simply just too hot and they're campaigning with a view to one of the big handicaps later in the year?

He is dangerous to write off and should get an uncontested lead here, with stamina to burn and a huge heart he might just spoil the party. Definite player.

Now with Polly Gundry, Santini was formerly of Nicky Henderson and is in fact a winner of this race in the past, having defeated multiple Grade 1 winner Bristol De Mai on the day.

However, that was his last win, and it dates back to 2020. His form has been uninspiring and has fundamentally looked below his best since. He does run well at Cheltenham however, and was only a neck second to Al Boum Photo in the Gold Cup. 

He looks to be on a bit of a revival mission, but the stable switch and conditions should be in his favour here.

However with Aye Right looking to be the only pace angle he might just find himself in a slowly ran race which not of a huge benefit to him.

Major player on old form, however on the face of it has it all to do to rediscover his best. 

The rank outsider of the field and has failed to complete in two of his last four starts. He is without a win since 2018 and the odds of 66-1 are more than justified.

He is an 11y/o now, so it seems unlikely he will find much more improvement. He also seems to want soft/heavy ground, which he's unlikely to get here and has 21lbs to find with the market leader.

He does receive 4lb from the field but that won't be enough. He was second in December to Two For Gold in a class 2 handicap chase when in receipt of 12lb from the winner. He is a tricky customer and has bucket loads to find.

Impossible to recommend in this field.