The Lexus Chase is Ireland’s premier three-mile winter event and in the last decade has been won by some of the best chasers around, horses including Denman, Beef or Salmon, Exotic Dancer and Best Mate.Watch live racing and get a free £40 bet at Boylesports
There are few established stars in this year’s renewal, but plenty of talented younger horses lining up for a fascinating betting heat.
Quito De La Roque (13/8 at Boylesport) is the hot favourite. The winner of four novice chases last season, he took the JNWine.com Champion Chase on his autumn reappearance, a creditable effort, given that his preparation for the race had been interrupted, although we can’t read too much into the bare form, given that the horses he beat into second and third, Sizing Europe and The Nightingale, were non-stayers.
The seven-year-old was said to be quite backward last season so could still have plenty of improvement in him and the fact that he gets the trip well and can handle any going makes him a solid contender. Still, it has to be said that he’s something of a tricky ride; a one-paced stayer who often has to be scrubbed along from a way out and those who take the 13-8 might not have an easy run for their money.
At 3-1, Rubi Light makes more appeal. He scored a creditable third in the Ryanair on going that was too fast for him and last time out in the John Durkan, beat both Joncol and Cooldine to claim his first Grade One. He isn’t proven over the trip, but this relentless galloper will surely stay the three miles. A fluent jumper, he thrives on winter going and has plenty of improvement left in him.
Joncol (9/2) is a regular in the top Irish chases and has twice finished third in this race. He has twice run with credit over shorter trips this season and will be better suited by this return to three miles, but though he will relish the conditions, the suspicion is that he lacks the class of the younger contenders and 4-1 is not a particularly attractive price about a horse that isn’t always the most consistent.
Bostons Angel has a good record at Leopardstown where he has beaten both Quito De La Roque and Magnaminity. But his form this season has been poor and after he ran badly in a Listed event at Sandown connections have decided to try him in blinkers, a far from positive sign. Add in the fact that the Royal and Sun Alliance form has not really worked out well and he makes only limited appeal at 10-1.
Of the others, Magnaminity at 12-1 could still have some improvement in him, but he looks held by Bostons Angel on form, whilst China Rock was last seen being pulled up in the Gold Cup and wants better going than he will encounter at Leopardstown. Welsh National winner Synchronised is 12-1 but unless there is a downpour on Wednesday, this trip will not be to his advantage
