Betbright Chase Betting Tips and Offers – Saturday 27th February 2016

Betbright Chase Tips and Betting Offers, 15.35 at Kempton, Saturday 27th February 2016

This week’s big Saturday showdown comes at Kempton in the Betbright Chase. A valuable prize in its own right, this three mile Grade 3 handicap often also provides valuable late clues for both Cheltenham and the Grand National at Aintree.

The shortlist for this race actually turns out to be pretty long. The likes of Theatre Guide, Rocky Creek and Hadrian’s Approach have the class to take a hand here if on a going day, but can they be trusted to put their best foot forward? Theatre Guide makes the most appeal of these having shown the best recent form having run second off this mark in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November. He should go well for man of the moment Colin Tizzard.

Champagne West, Le Reve and Ziga’s Boy boast rock solid handicap form and are currently vying for favouritism. Champagne West was pulled up last time however and whilst he could well win this we simply don’t trust his jumping enough to back him. Le Reve is often labelled a Sandown specialist having won three times at that track, his record here isn’t far behind that though with a win and two seconds from his three visits to this Sunbury-on-Thames venue. He has never won off a mark as high as this but looks sure to be involved at 6/1 with Coral.

Ziga Boy probably boasts the best recent form, following two comfortable successes at Doncaster, we just question whether he will prove as effective around this less galloping track. He can be backed at 11/2 with BetVictor to complete his hat-trick here. The potential improvers Roc d’Apsis and Thomas Brown also appeal but are opposed due to the overall poor record of seven-year-olds in this.

Many to consider and a tough decision but we will just plump for Theatre Guide here. The nine-year-old has posted three solid efforts so far this campaign, being placed at Listed, Grade 3 and Grade 2 level. Having been rated as high as 149 as recently as February of last year, he looks potentially very well treated off just 139 nine here. Take the 8/1 with Ladbrokes.

For an each way punt, we feel the one lurking right at the bottom of the weights is worth a second look. Officially rated 131, Mick Channon’s Viva Steve is having to race from 2lbs out of the handicap here. That would usually be enough to put us off but with 3lb claimer Harry Bannister taking the ride, that 2lb disparity is offset. With a highest winning mark of 124, Viva Steve would appear to have it all to do on his first crack in Graded company but he looks a much improved performer this season, particularly over this trip.

He followed up a first time out win at Market Rasen with an even better performance in finishing a close second to The Last Samuri over this course and distance, when conceding 13lb to that rival. The shorter trip and bottomless ground were all against him last time out at Cheltenham, we expect to see the eight-year-old resume on his upwards curve back over more favourable conditions here. Take the 20/1 with Totesport.