The 2019 Classic Chase betting tips given by Horsebetting.com experts say Calett Mad is worth a wager to land the valuable 3m 5f Grade 3 staying contest at Warwick on Saturday, 12 January, following several solid efforts this season. The Alex Hales trained Duel At Dawn is potentially very well-treated on the pick of his form, so is feared most. Joint top weight Sizing Codelco, meanwhile, appeals each-way in a typically wide-open renewal. Read our in-depth 2019 Classic Chase betting tips preview below for more details on these horses’ chances.A Classic case to be made for backing Calett MadCalett Mad has shaped well in all his three starts this season and looks worth a wager to land the spoils in the staying feature at Warwick on Saturday, the 3m 5f Classic Chase (15:00). This Nigel Twiston-Davies trained six-year-old has won twice and been placed five times in nine starts over fences, and undoubtedly has the ability to bag a big graded handicap prize of this nature.
After finishing an eye-catching staying on fourth to stable companion Cogry on return to action in the Randox Health Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in October, the son of Axxos ran a very solid race to finish a fine 9 3/4 lengths fifth of 15 to Rock The Kasbah in a competitive Grade 3 handicap at the same venue.
Denied Borders National success
Calett Mad was then arguably an unlucky loser last time out when beaten just half-a-length by Harry The Viking in the Borders National over 4m at Kelso. After racing at the head of affairs, he got badly hampered by a faller three from home, but rallied well and looked the likely winner until being unable to find any extra close home.
But for the interference, he would more likely than not have won, so a 4lb rise in the weights to a mark of 145 does not look harsh. Calett Mad ran well off it when ninth of 18 to Tiger Roll in the 4m National Hunt Chase at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival and prior to that had finished second in the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby off an official rating of 148.
Those efforts suggest that his current mark is exploitable and another plus is that Calett Mad is versatile as regards ground. So, with regular pilot Daryl Jacob – who has a 40 per cent strike rate on him – once again in the saddle, everything looks in place for a big run and that’s why he had to be the main selection in our 2019 Classic Chase betting tips.Well-weighted Duel at Dawn feared mostThere are plenty of dangers in typically wide-open renewal of this Grade 3, but Duel At Dawn looks weighted to go well on the pick of his form, so is feared most. This Alex Hales trained eight-year-old developed into a smart novice chaser last season when winning one of his five starts and posting some excellent efforts in defeat.
After coming good at the second time of asking over the larger obstacles when running out a very easy 16-length winner at Fakenham, this son of Presenting ran very well when a six length runner-up to Sizing Tennessee at Cheltenham. The winner, to whom he was conceding 5lb, has since won the valuable Grade 3 Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury last month by 10 lengths off a mark of 143 to now be rated 159.
That gives the form a very strong look and Duel At Dawn backed up that effort with a fine five-length second to Ms Parfois at Warwick. Ms Parfois went on to finish an excellent second of 16 to Rathvinden in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and third in a Grade 1 at Aintree to be rated 146, so it was fine effort in trying to concede her 2lb.
Although Duel At Dawn was disappointing when a well-beaten seventh on seasonal reappearance at Haydock, he shaped as if badly needing the outing and has since been dropped 2lb. A revised rating of 137 makes him a big player at the weights, especially on his run behind Sizing Tennessee, and he looks the one most likely to give Callet Mad most to think about.Sizing Codelco appeals each-wayOff those at bigger odds, Sizing Codelco looks capable of a bold showing despite having to shoulder joint top weight of 11st 10lb. This 10-year-old hails from the yard of Colin Tizzard and has some smart form in the book.
After landing a Listed handicap chase at the 2017 Aintree grand National meeting, the son of Flemensfirth defied a 11lb hike in the weights in style when landing a very competitive 13-runner affair at the Punchestown Festival by 3 1/2 lengths from Forever Gold off a mark of 150.
Sizing Codelco got put up to 160 for that taking display and has been lightly raced since. He has only managed to make the frame once in seven starts, but that came when last seen in action at Uttoxeter when an excellent 1/2 length second of 17 to Minellacelebration in the Staffordshire Plate.
Two starts prior to that, he had been far from disgraced when a 13 1/4 lengths fourth of eight to Might Bite in the Grade 1 Betway Bowl at Aintree. The form of that, and the aforementioned races, suggest that Sizing Codelco is not too badly treated off a current rating of 156.
So, with underfoot conditions ideal and in-form jockey Aidan Coleman in the plate, Sizing Codelco has more going for him than his odds would suggest. Hence he features as the each-way punt and completes these 2019 Classic Chase betting tipsYour Next Bet
