RSA chase odds down as Dynaste romps home

The grey cemented his position at the head of the ante-post market for Cheltenham’s RSA Chase after an impeccable performance in a race won 12 months ago by stablemate Grands Crus, who then finished third in yesterdays King George.

In-form Scudamore held up the David Pipe-trained runner at the rear in the early stages but moved the 8-13 shot into a more prominent spot as the race progressed. Jumping into the lead four out, Dynaste had the opposition at full stretch as he powered to a nine-length win over Hadrian’s Approach.

Both Paddy Power and BetVictor cut Dynaste to 5-2 from 5-1 for the RSA Chase.

He is a potential superstar because he travels well and makes up ground at his fences.

“He’s run very, very well again. You couldn’t fail to be impressed with him,” said an elated Scudamore afterwards.

“As boring as it sounds, it’s just straight forward with him. He jumped superbly as ever. He’s quick and neat and just a very straightforward and good horse. It’s difficult to compare him with Grands Crus. He beat Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth in what felt like a proper championship race.

“They didn’t go very quick today and I’m not sure it rode like such a good race, but it could be all the more impressive from Dynaste that he made it so straightforward.”

Pipe was similarly pleased, adding: “He was very impressive, very good. The step up to three miles obviously did him no harm. Tom gave him a great ride and he came out of his hands a couple of times so, hopefully, it’s Cheltenham here we come.”

IRELAND’S top novice chaser Arvika Ligeonniere was made to pull out all the stops to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Despite being sidelined for over two years with injury, the seven-year-old bolted up on his chasing debut at Punchestown in May and then produced a devastating performance on his return to action in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse.

With Paul Townend deputising in the saddle for Ruby Walsh who was at Kempton, the 9-10 favourite adopted the front-running tactics that were so successful on his last start, albeit this time not pulling quite so far clear. He began to wind up the tempo moving down the back straight, but a mistake at the third last gave his closest pursuers Baily Green and Oscars Well a chance,

However, Arvika Ligeonniere was much better at the second last and despite tiring after the final obstacle, he had enough in reserve to hold off Oscars Well by two-and-a-half lengths.