The Betway Chase was first run back in 1988 and was staged as the Racing Post Chase until 2011 and then the Racing Plus Chase in 2012 & 2013. Leading bookmaker – BetBright – took over the sponsorship from 2014 till 2017, but in 2020 we've another new backer of the race with leading bookmaker Betway taking over.
This Grade Three handicap is run over a distance of 3m at Kempton Park racecourse the contest is often described as another Grand National trial, with two horses – Rhyme ‘n' Reason and Rough Quest – landing both races in the same season, while it could pay to know that both those horses also contested the Cheltenham Gold Cup that season.
Here at RACING AHEAD we take a look back at recent winners of the Betway Chase and gives you the key stats to look out for ahead of the 2020 renewal – this year run on Saturday February 22nd.
Recent Betway Chase Winners
2019 – WALT (14/1)
2018 – MASTER DEE (8/1)
2017 – PILGRIMS BAY (25/1)
2016 – THEATRE GUIDE (6/1)
2015 – ROCKY CREEK (8/1)
2014 – BALLY LEGEND (28/1)
2013 – OPENING BATSMAN (12/1)
2012 – NACARAT (9/2)
2011 – QUINZ (8/1)
2010 – RAZOR ROYALE (11/1)
2009 – NACARAT (10/1)
2008 – GUNGADU (4/1 fav)
2007 – SIMON (11/2)
2006 – INNOX (8/1)
2005 – FARMER JACK (5/1)
2004 – MARLBOROUGH (8/1)
2003 – LA LANDIERE (5/1 jfav)
Key Betway Chase Betting Trends
15/17 – Finished in the top 5 last time out
14/17 – Aged 9 or younger
14/17 – Rated 139 or higher
12/17 – Had raced within the last 8 weeks
11/17 – Won a class 2 chase or better before
11/17 – Carried 10-13 or more
11/17 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
11/17 – Came from the top 4 in the betting
11/17 – Winning distance – 2 lengths or more
11/17 – Had won over at least 3m (fences) before
10/17 – Raced within the last 4 weeks
10/17 – Rated between 139 and 150
8/17 – Carried 11-5 or more
7/17 – Had won at least 4 times over fences before
7/17 – Won last time out
6/17 – Aged 8 years-old
5/17 – French bred
4/17 – Winners that went onto run in that season's Grand National (all unplaced)
4/17 – Raced at Cheltenham last time out
3/17 – Ridden by Paddy Brennan
3/17 – Winners that went onto run at that season's Cheltenham Festival (1 winner)
2/17 – Winning favourites (1 joint)
2/17 – Ridden by Richard Johnson (won it 5 times in all)
2/17 – Trained by Tom George
2/17 – Trained by Neil Mulholland (won 2 of the last 3)
2/17 – Trained by Philip Hobbs (won it 4 times in all)
2/17 – Ran in the King George VI Chase last time out
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 12/1
Note: The 2006 running was staged at Sandown Park
Talkischeap was a fair fifth in this race last year but being rated 12lbs higher this time would suggest he's got more on his plate. On a plus, he's an improved horse since and won the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last April, while has also had a wind operation since his last run. Romain De Senam was also fourth in this race last year, while Adrien Du Pont was third. This Nicholls runner has been popular in the betting all week and should be hitting peak fitness after two runs this term and is also rated 6lbs lower than last season. We've also got the runner-up from 12 months ago – Double Shuffle. The Tom George yard have won well in this race in recent years so his Double Shuffle must enter the mix again. This 10 year-old has, however, only won twice from 24 runs over fences, but been second 8 times. He's been placed in some big races over the years, most notably when runner-up in the 2017 King George, but despite his dropping mark is now 15 runs without a win. With a light weight, Just A Sting will have supporters based on being proven CD winners and coming here off the back off decent runs, but the horse that ticks a lot of the main stats is the Paul Nicholls-trained BLACK CORTON (e/w). This popular 9 year-old will be having his 36th race under rules and with 19 top three finishes to his name from 23 runs over fences, then he's as consistent as they come. A recent fourth at Ascot was another good effort and being dropped another 2lbs gives him a great chance. He's starting to look well-handicapped again on old form, while his form at the track is outstanding – 1-2-1-2- so is yet to finish out of the first two from four runs here. Whatmore, Dashing Perk, Kildisart and Sametegal are others to consider, but of those at bigger prices last year's fourth – ROMAIN DE SENAM (e/w) might be worthy of a small interest. Yes, he's rated 11lbs higher, but that's due to running much better since that run in the race last year. The softer ground would be a worry, but he's won in very soft conditions in France before. He also returns from a 242-day break but has won off a lay-off in the past and has clearly been aimed at a return in this race for a while. He'll be fresher than most and in conditions that will be a plus.
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