The 2018 Shloer Chase betting tips on Horsebetting.com say Sceau Royal is well worth backing for the 2m Grade 2 contest on Sunday, 18 November. If able to replicate his Cheltenham Festival victory here, then Le Prezien is feared most for trainer Paul Nicholls and owner JP McManus. Sizing Granite, meanwhile, is an each-way alternative for red-hot handler Colin Tizzard. Read all about this feature chase on day three of the November Meeting at Prestbury Park in our 2018 Shloer Chase betting tips preview.Sceau Royal set for Shloer successAlan King looks to have leading claims of training a first-ever winner of the 2m Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday (14:25) courtesy of Sceau Royal. Six-year-olds have won two of the last four renewals, and this son of Doctor Dino has won all but one of his five starts over fences.
Sceau Royal was a very useful hurdler, scoring at this level in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton back in November 2016 before finishing sixth in the 2017 Champion Hurdle. He had the re-opposing Brain Power beaten more than 16 lengths behind him in eighth and had the makings of a great chaser.
That view was confirmed when he avenged his narrow neck loss over course and distance to North Hill Harvey on his fourth start of last season in the Grade 1 King Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown. After being held up by regular rider Daryl Jacob, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned gelding stalked the leaders menacingly from four out, improved to second before the penultimate fence and was then produced to lead.
Already in firm command when jumping the last, Sceau Royal bolted up by 11 lengths and reversed the form of that previous defeat in decisive fashion. The third home, the ill-fated Finian’s Oscar, may have been tailed off and last to finish, but came out and won at Grade 1 at the Aintree Grand National meeting, so that gives the form a solid look.
Over this trip Sceau Royal clearly has a potent turn of foot and even scored on less than ideal soft ground when last in action. He readily carried a 5lb penalty in the Grade 2 Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster when running out a two-length winner.
These exploits have earned Sceau Royal a chasing mark of 159 – the highest in this line-up. He gets weight from his two main rivals in the betting here and has won first time up in each of the last two season. There’s thus nothing not to like about his profile for this, so Sceau Royal is readily put up for victory in our 2018 Shloer Chase betting tips.Le Prezien looks main dangerLe Prezien won the similar grade Arkle Trial over the same course and distance two years ago and the Grade 3 Grand Annual Handicap Chase at the Festival back in March. If turning up in the same shape after a running well in a pipe opener over hurdles on reappearance, he is the obvious danger despite having to give Sceau Royal 1lb.
Trained by Paul Nicholls, the JP McManus owned seven-year-old has won three of his 11 starts over fences and placed on a further four occasions. Le Prezien landed the Grade 2 Premier Kelso Hurdle before being sent chasing by his powerful connections.
Although beaten by Charbel on his debut in this sphere at Uttoxeter, he then landed the aforementioned Arkle Trial here. Le Prezien got a slice of luck when Some Plan took a tumble two from home, though was mounting a challenge, and ran on strongly to score by four lengths.
He then went on to beat L’Ami Serge in a graduation chase at Exeter and finish a 6 1/4 lengths third to Top Notch in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown. Although then a disappointing eighth in the 2017 renewal of the Grand Annual back here and later pulled up at Punchestown, there was still the impression of more to come from Le Prezien.
Held a neck by Foxtail Hill on reappearance last season over course and distance, he also put in a very solid effort in the mud when a 2 3/4 lengths third in the BetVictor Gold Cup over 2m 4f here 12 months ago. While Le Prezien was then not so good after stumbling badly three out in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and eighth to Guitar Pete, he bounced back to form when winning the Grand Annual at this year’s Festival at the second attempt.
After being held-up by Barry Geraghty and despite getting hampered three out, he closed on the leaders before the second last and was then switched to find space. Le Prezien then stayed on after moving into second prior to the final fence, and stormed home up the run-in to score by 4 1/2 lengths.
This was the display he had been threatening for sometime, but it clearly took its toll as he was pulled up on his final start of last season at the Aintree Grand National meeting. Connections sent Le Prezien for a spin over hurdles on his reappearance run in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las where he chased Silver Streak home and was trying to give him 12lb.
That is a solid effort in the circumstances and it could’ve put him spot on for this. If treated on the pick of his form, Le Prezien clearly looks the one that should give Sceau Royal plenty to think about and, according to our 2018 Shloer Chase betting tips, is thus feared most in a small but select field of six.Sizing Granite each-way valueVenn Farm handler Colin Tizzard came into the November Meeting bang in-form. That means none of his runners can be ruled out, so if you’re looking for an each-way alternative the Alan and Ann Potts Limited owned Sizing Granite fits the bill should either the selection or main danger fail to fire.
With Nicky Richards’ confirmed front-runner Simply Ned likely to take them along then blow up, Forest Bihan having the most to find on ratings and Brain Power too short in the betting given his struggles left-handed and away from flat tracks, it’s this 10-year-old who is just 3lb inferior to Sceau Royal according to official figures chosen almost by default. Sizing Granite has a 50 per cent win or place ratio from 16 career starts over fences.
Although pulled up on all three of his previous starts at Cheltenham, like Le Prezien he has had the benefit of a reappearance run over hurdles to bring his fitness on. While on that evidence Sizing Granite has 20 lengths to find on that one, they are rated the same (156) over fences.
He led home a stable and owners one-two in the Grade A Guinness Handicap Chase at the Punchestown Festival last year when beating Viconte De Noyer by five lengths. Champion jockey Richard Johnson is booked to ride Sizing Granite for the first time, so he cannot be completely discounted and is one to consider each-way in our 2018 Shloer Chase betting tips.Your Next Bet
