Read 1965 Chase betting tips from Ascot below. Horsebetting.com say Politologue looks a worthy favourite to land the spoils in the 2m 5f Grade 2 contest over fences on Saturday, 24 November. Benatar is feared most after being hotly tipped but not turning up at Cheltenham last weekend. In a competitive renewal where a case can be made most, Gold Present looks the each-way value. For more on this quality race, check out this 1965 Chase betting tips preview.Politologue the 1965 Chase puntPaul Nicholls has saddled three horses to five wins in the 1965 Chase at Ascot in the last 12 years. Those victories in the 2m 5f Grade 2 contest have come courtesy of Cerium (2006). Master Minded (2010 and 2011) and Al Ferof (2013 and 2014). The Ditcheat handler is represented in this year’s renewal on Saturday (14:05) by Politologue, who tops the official ratings and looks a worthy hot favourite despite giving weight all-round.
This seven-year-old son of Poliglote is a Grade 1 winner over fences and brings course and distance form to the table. Politologue had just four hurdles outings for Nicholls before being sent chasing and landed the Noel Novices’ Chase here on his second start of 2016-17. He jumped well and made all, running out a reduced four-length victor over Rock The Kasbah.
The runner-up and third horse home, Royal Vacation, have advertised that form recently, as the first two past the post in a Grade 3 stayers’ handicap chase at Cheltenham last weekend. Politologue then chased Waiting Patiently home under a penalty at Haydock, landed a graduation chase at Kempton and was a far from disgraced 10 lengths fourth to Yorkhill in the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Although then coming to grief at the final fence when in a narrow lead at Aintree, he proved no worse for that tumble when beating the winner San Benedeto on reappearance last season in the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter. Politologue then recorded the first of his two successes at the highest level, proving half-a-length too good for Fox Norton in Sandown’s festive feature, the Tingle Creek.
Charbel, who re-opposes in this, was beaten six lengths in fourth and now gets 6lb from him. For all that one has claims, Politologue is the proven class horse in this field after bolting up by 13 lengths in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton last Christmas before finishing second and then fourth to Altior at Newbury and in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
He reversed Festival form, however, on the runner-up Min, just holding him a neck in the Grade 1 Melling Chase when stepped back up in trip. The re-opposing Sizing Granite was a further 20 lengths behind Politologue in third, while the fourth horse home was Ryanair Chase hero Balko Des Flos, so this Aintree form is very, very strong.
It has earned Politologue a rating of 168. A repeat of his Tingle Creek or Grand National meeting performances make him impossible to oppose in this, so he therefore headlines our 1965 Chase betting tips and is entitled to be favourite for the spoils.Benatar a definite dangerIn a race where a case can be made for most, we boldly pass over Charbel, who narrowly beat subsequent BetVictor Gold Cup hero Baron Alco last time out, in favour of another Gary Moore trained runner in Benatar. This six-year-old son of Beneficial was set to be the stable’s first string in that valuable Cheltenham handicap last weekend, but was pulled out on the morning of the race.
Benatar followed in Politologue’s hoofprints by winning the Noel over course and distance on his third start over fences last season, reversing hurdles form with the ill-fated Finian’s Oscar when just holding on by a short-head. The ex-Irish pointer had earlier done likewise with Keeper Hill and also landed his chase bow, so went to the JLT at Cheltenham in March on the back of a hat-trick.
While he was beaten 12 lengths by Shattered Love at the Festival, that does not tell the whole story. Benatar was giving weight to both the winner and runner-up Terrefort, who is a dual Grade 1 winner having landed the Scilly Isles at Sandown before Cheltenham and the Mildmay at Aintree afterwards.
His old rival Finian’s Oscar, who was 3 3/4 lengths behind him in the JLT, also came out and recorded success at the highest level. Taking all that into account, a chase mark of 149 is arguably underestimating Benatar and he is still relatively unexposed over fences after just five starts in this sphere.
On the pick of his form, he is preferred to Charbel, who is just two from eight in chases. Benatar also looks sure to come on for his reappearance run when fourth on heavy going at Newton Abbot last month and is thus feared most among our 1965 Chase betting tips from Ascot.Gold Present has each-way squeakWith only six runners, there’s just two places paying out on each-way bet. Of the remainder, Gold Present makes for an interesting choice to hit the frame if a wind op has had the desired effect. Trained by Nicky Henderson, the eight-year-old is three from nine over fences and has also run some solid races in defeat.
After progressing through handicaps, this son of Presenting was a two-length runner-up to Frodon in the 2017 Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton and then chased Tully East home when beat just 1 1/4 lengths in the ultra competitive Listed 2m 4f Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Gold Present returned to action last season with victory in the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase during the Winter Carnival at Newbury when just touching off Warriors Tale by a neck. He was then stepped up to 3m for the first time in the Lavazza Silver Cup here and gained revenge on Frodon with a good jump to lead at the last and stay on well up the run-in for a three-length win.
Something has been amiss with Gold Present since as he pulled up in both the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in March and the marathon Scottish Grand National at Ayr. If his wind operation has dealt with the issue, then a horse rated 155 at his peak is in with a shout of making the frame here. He thus completes our 1965 Chase betting tips.Your Next Bet
