Grade Two Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase Guide 2023

Chacun Pour Soi is fundamentally, the best horse in the race, but his age and performance last time out – has to raise some sort of concern now.

He was a well beaten, 14L third last time out in the G1 Paddy’s Reward Club Chase in Leopardstown at Christmas.

He did surrender his chance earlier than ideal, as a result of a race ending error 2 out – where he rapidly lost two places and just managed to stay up.

He’s an 11yo now too, so he’s not a young horse, and he’s stepping up in trip to 2 and a half miles, for the first time in his career.

He makes this a hugely intriguing race.

Royal Rendezvous is certainly a solid horse, but he’s looking safely held by a few of these on form. Royal Rendezvous, like Chacun Pour Soi, is now an 11yo – so one could argue his best days are certainly behind him – but he bowed out last season in style winning a Grade A handicap chase at Punchestown.

However, he was seventh of seven last time out (first time up this season) and he became detached fairly quickly. He will likely be beaten a distance again. Hard to fancy.

Fakir D’oudairies is probably the main danger to Chacun Pour Soi in this contest. He was a good second last time out to Galopin Des Champs (expected to win), an he had; Lifetime Ambition and Haut En Couleurs safely held in third and fourth respectively.

Fakir D’oudairies was a good second to the deeply-impressive Allaho, 12 months ago in this contest, and I don’t think Chacun Pour Soi will be as feared as much as Galopin Des Champs, or Allaho – so effectively, Fakir D’oudairies should have an easier assignment here. Very solid. 

Lifetime Ambition is certainly a solid horse, he often runs creditably without getting his head in front. Last time out he was a good third behind Galopin Des Champs and Fakir D’oudairies in the John Durkan in December, and he had Haut En Couleurs behind him in fourth.

Prior to that effort, he was a cracking second to The Big Dog in the Troytown at Navan over 3m. His stamina may help him sneak into a place, but he’d be hard pushed to take this.

French Dynamite ran an absolute cracker when just beaten by Ga Law in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November.

He had travelled like the winner throughout – he had just been outstayed up the hill. He failed to build on that next time out though, in G1 company in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He finished fifth of seven there so he was more than likely just a shade out classed. Same story here?

Haut En Couleurs has a tough task on here. He was fourth behind; Galopin Des Champs, Fakir D’oudaires and Lifetime Ambition last time out.

He has it all to do to reverse the form with those three, let alone to reach or surpass the level set by that of his stablemate, Chacun Pour Soi.

Haut En Couleurs is obviously a talented horse, but he’s yet to really show us what he can do. Difficult to recommend.