Submitted by snooker on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 09:02
We preview the betting on the Argento Chase at Cheltenham and give you some pointers/tips on where the value lies in this competitive battle over 3m 1f, as Grand Crus attempts to take the top honour.2012 Argento Chase – Betting Odds: Grand Crus – 2/1 Captain Chris – 11/4 Diamond Harry – 4/1 Time For Rupert – 5/1 Midnight Chase – 8/1 Tidal Bay – 8/1 The Minack – 10/1 Carruthers – 16/1 Master Of The Hall – 33/1 Knockara Beau – 33/1 Little Josh – 33/1 Any Currency – 66/1 The Sawyer – 100/1It was on the Festival Trials Day twelve months ago that Grands Crus announced himself as a top-quality staying hurdler in the Cleeve, and ever since the same horse won the Feltham Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day in impressive fashion this Saturday has been pencilled in as his first meeting with fully-fledged chasers in the Argento Chase.On inspection of the market for Saturday’s race, it seems that the bookmakers likewise pencilled in a price for Grands Crus (2/1) soon after he crossed the line at Kempton. His current odds of 2/1 for the Argento make total sense working on the assumption that the race would attract its usual quota of three-mile chasing’s nearly men- and indeed the likes of Carruthers, Knockara Beau and Any Currency are all in there- but the level of competition this year is well above standard for the race and it’s well worth looking away from Grands Crus for the value.At the moment, the betting can’t split Rupert, Chris and Harry (Time For, Captain and Diamond respectively) as to who rates as Grands Crus’ main challenger. In a slightly similar tone to Grands Crus, much of Time For Rupert’s (6/1) price appears to be based on the fact he used to be the understudy to Big Buck’s in his hurdling days, with his form this season- reappearance second to Weird Al in the Charlie Hall aside- well short of what will be required here.Captain Chris (11/4) and Diamond Harry (4/1) are both genuinely interesting at 5/1. On this season’s form, both have reasonable claim to being ‘Best Of The Rest’ behind Long Run and Kauto Star, with Captain Chris shaping a clear third best in the King George last time and Diamond Harry looking the likeliest winner of the Betfair Chase four out before he tired. The crux probably lies in the pair’s relative stamina- it’s little more than ten months ago that Captain Chris won the Arkle, and he’s never appealed as the type to relish the best part of three-and-a-quarter miles. Diamond Harry, on the other hand, has won a Hennessy already and boasts a good record at Cheltenham. He’s been freshened up since Haydock (his late withdrawal from the King George is no real issue, given the cotton-wool treatment trainer Nick Williams has applied to his stable star throughout his career) and all told has conditions which could hardly be better for him to stake a genuine Gold Cup claim.There are others who in another year might have been favourite for this race, but as it happens are merely worth mentioning as interesting outsiders this time around. Tidal Bay (12/1) has always had the talent, and it’s still early enough days in his time with Paul Nicholls to suggest he may yet reveal it. Call it the ‘once bitten, twice shy’ approach of a man who’s placed plenty of faith in Tidal Bay down the years, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. The Minack, also trained by Nicholls, is on a steep upward curve and certainly holds more potential than the declining or exposed sorts who occupy a similar place in the market. Still, this is a high-quality race that will probably require a top-class horse to win it.Verdict:There are only three horses in the race who, for me, fit that bill, and one (Grands Crus) is too short in the betting and another (Captain Chris) isn’t sure to stay. That leaves Diamond Harry, who can make an announcement of his own on Saturday about his Gold Cup credentials.