Ginger Joe - Preview and Betting Tips for the Bet 365 Premier Chase

We’re off to Kelso for the Bet 365 Premier Chase

The highlight race this Saturday is the Bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso, and we have an absolutely cracking field for this year’s renewal. There are seven runners due to line up and I am going to take a look at each one and then bring you my verdict at the end of the preview.

It’s unlikely that you won’t know this, but as of Saturday, we have just 10 days to go until the Cheltenham Festival. I’ve already added my preview for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, as well as an article that gives you my insights on Constitution Hill, or more importantly, whether he will run in the Champion Hurdle, and the impact his absence could make, so don’t miss out on reading those.

All roads lead to Cheltenham, and hopefully to plenty of winners for you, my loyal readers.

Race sponsors Bet 365 with a BIG offer for new customers

This weekend’s big race sponsor is Bet 365 and they have a fantastic offer for all new customers. If you sign up and place a £10 bet, you’ll get £30 in free bets. It’s a great deal, and perfect timing for Cheltenham too.

15:25 Kelso – The Bet 365 Premier Chase 2m 7f

The Bet365 Premier Chase looks set to be a very competitive race and I think it’s easy to make a case for six of the seven runners in the lineup. So, I’ll go through them all starting off with the most promising individuals.

Monbeg Genius

Monbeg Genius heads the betting for the Jonjo O’Neill team, and he holds the most obvious credentials for this race, having won three Chase starts in a row, before finishing third in the Ultima at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. This season he managed a third in the Coral Gold Cup, but he has had a few niggling injuries along the way, which have undeniably slowed his progress.

That said, connections have been patient with him and if he turns up in good form, then he could play a big part in this race. The Aintree Grand National in April is his main target, but I imagine he will already be pretty fit and ready to go at this point, so he does have a decent chance here.

Aye Right

Second favourite, Aye Right, owes nothing to connections. He is an 11-year-old now, but still consistently produces the goods out on the racecourse and his better form has him right in the mix here. He’s had a few unlucky breaks this season, the most notable being in the Veterans’ Chase at Chepstow, when he was beaten by just a neck by Big Boy Bobby.

One thing I really like about Aye Right is his jumping, he really does love fences, and basically, whatever happens in a race, he always manages to keep going and place. He actually has some pretty good course and distance form here at Kelso, and even though he may not have too many more miles left on the clock, he comes here with a chance for sure.

Thunder Rock

Thunder Rock, who runs for Olly Murphy, has been a bit of an enigma really and hasn’t yet managed to fulfil his potential over fences. However, he has time on his side and could bounce back here. He was backed off the boards at Cheltenham in December for the big Handicap but he looked to be struggling from the early stages of the race.

That performance did make me wonder if he is taking well to the larger obstacles, but he came back from the disappointment and ran well at Musselburgh to finish second last time out and shaping like the step up would suit after all. He is a tricky customer though and I just hope that his jumping can hold up all the way round here.

Elvis Mail

Elvis Mail is a course specialist here at Kelso and for me, he has the strongest credentials for this race. He likes to be held up and the fact he travels so strongly once he’s been given the nod makes it hard to see where it goes wrong for him this weekend. He may not quite have the class angle but he has won his last two at Kelso and I think he is probably the most straightforward of these. He has a big chance for sure.

Minella Drama

Minella Drama has been a tad disappointing if you ask me. I actually really like him as a horse, but I expected him to progress more than he has, meaning that he has become incredibly frustrating to follow.

There was a point where I thought he had the potential to become a Graded horse, but unfortunately, it looks like he has gone backwards rather than forwards and although connections are making the effort by trying him in a tongue tie and stepping him up in trip for the first time under NH Rules, I am somewhat dubious about his chances here.

Le Ronommee

Le Renommee is a lovely mare in her own right, but she has a lot to prove on soft conditions. She evidently acts much better on a quicker surface, which she won’t get here. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t turn up at all.

Coopers Cross

Regrettably, there is little for me to say about Coopers Cross for this particular race. Frankly, he has looked well out of sorts this season, and there is nothing to suggest that he has any hope here.

My Verdict

Whatever happens, the Bet 365 Premier Chase is going to be a brilliant watch. Monbeg Genius is going to be popular, but he does have his issues and the same can be said for Thunder Rock and Minella Drama too.

In a race with so many question marks, I think the one to side with is Elvis Mail, who evidently thrives at Kelso and he looks well enough handicapped to run a very big race. He may not be the flashiest sort in the field, but he is by far the most solid and he ticks all of the right boxes for me. He is a good traveller and jumps very well too – I believe he is going to take some stopping back at a track he absolutely loves.

My Premier Chase place predictions

1st - Elvis Mail

2nd - Monbeg Genius

3rd - Thunder Rock

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