Saturday’s Clarence House Chase Preview

Ar Mad for revenge

Main danger in the betting comes from current second-favourite Ar Mad, who goes for Team Moore. The talented seven-year-old, winner in half of his 10 career starts, continues down the road to recovery since being hampered by injury, and victory here would surely cap that.

He was back in business after a lengthy absence in the Tingle Creek in early December, but made little impression that day, finishing down in fourth-place. Excuses can be made for the bare result however and he was bowling along nicely in front before a piece of iffy jumping seemed to take him out of his stride, and after that, we can put a line through his finish.

Connections will take the positives from that race in that it was his first back and he took to the day like he had never been away. Trainer Gary Moore told racing enthusiasts with their ear to the ground that his representative has come on from that effort, but must show further improvement still if he is to overturn the favourite.

Dodging Bullets off target

Of those at a bigger price, Dodging Bullets may be given a chance by those who recall fondly him winning the Tingle Creek, Clarence House and Champion Chase a couple of years ago, and anything like his best would see him stand these on their head.

Unfortunately, we haven’t seen anything like his best for some time now and the fear is that the Nicholls star has had his time in the sun. He hasn’t won since that Cheltenham prize, when leaving behind Somersby in March 2015, ending no better than third in any of his last five attempts. An each-way play may work in your favour.

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