The Grade 3 Betway Handicap Chase at Kempton is the big betting race on this storm-affected Saturday and is on a card that also features three Grade 2 races which should provide a few final pointers for next month’s Cheltenham Festival.
Horse Racing Betting at BetVictor
Betdaq Handicap Chase History and Trends
First run in 1949 but it wasn’t until the Racing Post took over sponsorship of this race in 1988 that prize money of this handicap improved significantly.
Run over 3m, the race features 18 fences at Kempton and has become an established Grand National Trial. Rhyme ‘N Reason, in 1988, and Rough Quest, in 1996, both won the Racing Post Chase before winning at Aintree. The now-defunct BetBright sponsored the race between 2014 and 2017 before Betdaq’s name appeared in the race title in 2018. Betway are now helping fund the race which is worth £56,950 to the winner.
Two chasers have won the Betway Handicap Chase twice – Docklands Express and Nacarat.
Table of Contents
- 1 Betdaq Handicap Chase History and Trends
- 2 Betway Handicap Chase Recent Winners
- 3 Betway Handicap Chase Current Best Odds
- 4 Sting’s Kempton record in the spotlight
- 5 Kildisart looking to recapture last season’s form
- 6 Has Adrien been readied to take advantage of a lenient handicap mark?
- 7 Classy Corton can profit from Frost’s big-race temperament
- 8 Best Of The Rest
- 9 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer with Bet365
- 10 Significant Terms and Conditions
Betway Handicap Chase Recent Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Gloria Victis | 6 | 11–10 | Richard Johnson | Martin Pipe |
| 2001 | Young Spartacus | 8 | 11-03 | Richard Johnson | Henry Daly |
| 2002 | Gunther McBride | 7 | 10-03 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
| 2003 | La Landiere | 8 | 11-07 | Warren Marston | Richard Phillips |
| 2004 | Marlborough | 12 | 11–12 | Ruby Walsh | Nicky Henderson |
| 2005 | Farmer Jack | 9 | 11–12 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
| 2006 | Innox [b] | 10 | 11-00 | AP McCoy | François Doumen |
| 2007 | Simon | 8 | 11-05 | Andrew Thornton | John Spearing |
| 2008 | Gungadu | 8 | 11–12 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2009 | Nacarat | 8 | 10–13 | AP McCoy | Tom George |
| 2010 | Razor Royale | 8 | 10-05 | Paddy Brennan | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2011 | Quinz | 7 | 11-00 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
| 2012 | Nacarat | 11 | 11-08 | Paddy Brennan | Tom George |
| 2013 | Opening Batsman | 7 | 10-05 | Noel Fehily | Harry Fry |
| 2014 | Bally Legend | 9 | 10–12 | Ian Popham | Caroline Keevil |
| 2015 | Rocky Creek | 9 | 11–11 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Paul Nicholls |
| 2016 | Theatre Guide | 9 | 10-06 | Paddy Brennan | Colin Tizzard |
| 2017 | Pilgrims Bay | 7 | 10-02 | James Best | Neil Mulholland |
| 2018 | Master Dee | 9 | 11-05 | Barry Geraghty | Fergal O’Brien |
| 2019 | Walt | 8 | 10-06 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Neil Mulholland |
- Chasers officially rated 139 or higher have won 13 of the last 16 renewals.
- 10 of the last 11 winners have been aged 7-9.
- 10 of the last 11 winners had won less than four times over fences previously.
- Kempton is a flat, easy course so winning form over 3m isn’t necessary.
- Recent placed form is usually a good pointer.
Betway Handicap Chase Current Best Odds
Adrien Du Pont 5/1
Just A Sting 13/2
Black Corton 8/1
Double Shuffle 9/1
Whatmore and Kildisart 10/1
Talkischeap, Dashing Perk and Sametegal 12/1
Highway One O One 14/1
Crievehill and Mister Malarky 16/1
Azzerti and Romain De Senam 25/1
(Odds correct at 13.40 February 21)
Sting’s Kempton record in the spotlight
Just A Sting was a winner over the course and distance of the Betway Handicap Chase on his latest start.
He’d finished second on his only previous start at Kempton and Harry Fry’s charge has now won three of his seven races over fences.
Still at the right end of the handicap, the eight-year-old may again beat old rivals Highway One O One and Sametegal and can be caked at 13/2 with Bet365.
Kildisart looking to recapture last season’s form
Kildisart won three times last season between 2m4f at 3m1f.
He’s found life tough this term but slips further down the weights and has won at Kempton over hurdles – the general 10/1 looks viable.
Has Adrien been readied to take advantage of a lenient handicap mark?
Paul Nicholls is responsible for four of the 14 declared runners in this year’s Betway Handicap Chase.
Stable jockey Harry Cobden is on board Adrien Du Pont and it’s no surprise to see his mount near the head of the betting market.
A winner at Kempton last season when only a pound lower in the ratings, the eight-year-old has only had two runs this season so this may have been the long-term plan.
The gelding barely stays 3m but gets away with a lack of stamina at Kempton and his partner will be delaying his challenge to the closing stages – a general 5/1 after ante-post support.
Classy Corton can profit from Frost’s big-race temperament
Bryony Frost is best known for her association with Frodon but she’s won eight times over fences on Black Corton, including a Grade 1 and two Grade 2 contests.
Consequently, the gelding is always near the head of the weights when running in handicaps but that didn’t prevent him running well in last summer’s Galway Plate nor in two races this season at Ascot.
Eased 2lb in the ratings since last seen in December, the assessor has just opened the door a little for this game front-runner who jumps for fun on right-handed courses like Kempton and he’s a cracking each-way bet at the general 8/1.
Best Of The Rest
Whatmore (a general 10/1) has taken well to fences yet was running well at this time of year over hurdles off higher marks.
Mister Malarky‘s run at Ascot last time was too bad to be true and he may have benefited from a break. The general 16/1 would be too big if he recaptured the form he’d shown earlier in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury.
ITV Racing 4/1 Offer with Bet365
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Significant Terms and Conditions
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