Betfair Ascot Chase Tips and Betting Offers, Ascot, 20th February 2016

2m5f is the trip for this Grade 1 Chase contest around Ascot’s right handed galloping track. With 17 fences to tackle in all, fluent jumping and an ability to see out this trip are crucial to a horses chances of success. The going at the track is currently described as soft and with only intermittent rain forecast in the build up to the race this should not deteriorate significantly.

With 12 Grade 1 wins between the runners, this year’s renewal looks a good one. Here we take a look at who is likely to join the likes of Cheltenham Festival legend Kauto Star and One Man on the roll of honour for this race.

Betfair Ascot Chase Betting Offers

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Betfair Ascot Chase Betting Tips

The only course and distance winner in the field, Royal Regatta, makes some appeal for trainer Philip Hobbs who is enjoying an exceptional season. The eight-year-old was an impressive winner of a graduation chase here in December but is taking a steep rise in class here. In addition he is the type who likes to dominate, but is unlikely to be afforded such a luxury here. As a son of King’s Theatre he is also likely to be seen to best effect on better ground.

Silviniaco Conti heads the betting for Paul Nicholls at 11/4 with Sky Bet. He could make that look a very big price indeed if returning to something like the level that saw this son of Dom Alco win back to back King Georges in 2014 and 2015. A defeat to Cue Card is no disgrace given the form that horse has shown this season, but Silviniaco Conti looked a rapidly diminishing force when pulled up in the King George last time out. This step down in trip is also something of a guessing game as whilst he has won over it, that was back in 2011. More recently he was beaten over this distance in a Class 2 handicap in November.

Coming back to this trip does however appear to be the right way to go with Dynaste. A record of just two wins from 14 attempts at trips in excess of 2m7f as opposed to four wins from nine at less than 2m7f would appear to bear this out. The 10-year-old’s finest hour came when landing the Ryanair over this distance in 2014. He hasn’t performed near that level for some time but is not over the hill just yet at 10 years of age. In addition the horse has reportedly been experiencing wind issues which have recently been addressed. At the prices this high class performer rates the best win bet. Take the 7/2 with Coral.

Each Way Tip

For an each way option look no further than the mare who was second to Balder Succes in this race last year. Nicky Henderson has a good record here and his Ma Filleule can go close once again. Supremely talented on her day, she showed her well-being when coming out on top in a driving finish at Doncaster last time out. She is versatile with regards to the ground and posted a career best effort over this trip in the Topham Chase. At 6/1 with Ladbrokes she can at least make the frame.