Peterborough Chase Guide

Top Notch heads into the Peterborugh Chase looking for his third win in the Grade Two contest and also looking to defend his title after a superb win in the race last term.

Henderson and his rider Daryl Jacob really do have a soft spot for this horse, talking well of him throughout his career and now at the age of nine will be looking to extend his superb record in the race.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned gelding has found his level over the years in these sort of events and if being as fresh as he has on debut over the last few years then he looks to have a big chance.

The move to Cheltenham from Huntingdon may dent his chances slightly, but should give his running.

The Nicky Henderson trained Mister Fisher has this season has been tipped to really break the mould and have a breakthrough campaign over fences.

Having been a smart horse over hurdles, landing races like the Grade Two Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trial at Haydock, he stepped over fences last term and had a pleasing year.

Having finished second at Warwick on chasing debut, he went to Cheltenham in a decent Novices' event and used the step up in trip to full effect when winning nicely.

He then went to Doncaster and landed the Grade Two Novices' Chase and used that to finish a strong fourth in the Grade One Marsh Novices' Chase at the festival.

He started his season off at Cheltenham in a tough Handicap event and although threatening in the betting to run a big race was pulled up, never getting involved in the race.

He should be much more finely tuned for that blow out and back in Grade Two company can bounce back to form if the ground does not go to soft.

The seven year old has shown during his career how smart he can be over both hurdles and fences, finishing a narrow second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in his first season over timber.

After that he went chasing and having always been bought to go over the bigger obstacles and in his first season, won his first two events and then went on to place in the Grade Two Wayward Lads Novices' Chase at Kempton.

After being pulled up at Cheltenham in the Arkle, he was sent to the Grand National meeting at Aintree and he managed to bounce back and land his first Grade One for the yard in the Manifesto Novices' Chase.

Last term he started his campaign off back at Aintree in the Old Roan Chase and could only finish second to Forest Bihan and although finishing second at Newbury in a decent handicap event, his form has dropped off massively.

Having given him a spin over hurdles at Haydock in the Grade Three Stayers' Handicap hurdle it should see him at peak fitness for his return to the bigger obstacles.

Tom George's first runner in the event looks a big improver for the yard over the years and now deserves his chance in black type company.

The eight year old has been a fair chaser for many years, but has really taken his form to a new level this term when placing and winning in some competitive handicap events.

On seasonal debut he managed to finish a narrow second to Nuts Well in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase and then last time out got off the mark in fine style At Newbury in a decent Handicap off top weight.

He looks to be much better than a handicapping horse now and if improving on what he has done this season then he looks the value angle.

Fanion D'Estruval could be a big player in this event being an unexposed five year old and showing on seasonal debut just how smart he can be.

The gelding joined the inform Venetia Williams last season and got off the mark at the first time of asking at Newbury in a Class 3 Chase, beating some smart types.

He was then sent to Kempton for the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase and was outclassed by better rivals including Global Citizen, Rouge Vif and Grand Sancy.

This season he made his seasonal debut back over his preferred two miles and was a valiant second behind Magic Saint at Cheltenham.

Seeing him step up in trip again looks a worry, but he is very unexposed compared to the rest of the field and can't be overlooked.

Paul Nicholls only runner in the race is Dolos who looks t be a horse that has offered much in the way of potential but never really fulfilled it.

Last season the seven year old ran credibly in races like the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter when second and at Sandown in February when landing a competitive handicap which saw him beat the smart First Flow.

However, he also has some lesser form which has seen him finish fourth in a week handicap on his final start last term, seventh of eight runners in the 2019 Tingle Creek and last time out on seasonal debut when along way fourth behind Rouge Vif at Cheltenham.

Nicholls has stepped him up in trip today and he will be hoping that with him having the run and the getting the extra trip he can improve greatly.

The penultimate runner of the race is the eight year old Glen Forsa that apart from having the superb David Bass on him does not have much going for him.

Two seasons ago he was a well regarded novice chaser, being a prominent figure in the betting for the Arkle but since then has dropped off dramatically.

Having suffered a setback last time which only saw him race once, he returned at Exeter in the Grade Two Haldon Gold Cup and fell along way out.

Even before falling he looked to be in trouble and it would take big improvement for him to go close in this event.

Finally, Bun Doran makes up the last of the eight runners heading to post and this outsider is very much an up and down horse.

Between 2018 and 2019 the gelding put in some nice performances when winning at Cheltenham's November meeting and placing in the Grand Annual Chase at the festival.

However, the best of his form now looks to be behind him having been destroyed in a weak Champion Chase last term and be brushed aside on seasonal debut in the Haldon Gold Cup.

Looks like his best years are behind him, but does have a good record at this track and can use that to his own benefit.