Rsa Chase Form

A couple of key races that require a second look in your search for the RSA Chase winner by checking out the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot or the Novice Chase at Newbury both run in February as these were the prep runs by the last two English winners in Albertas Run in 2008 and Denman in 2007 and the Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown which produced the winner of the 2009 winner in Cooldine.

We have been following the progress of all these trials in the build up to the 2012 RSA Chase and you can review our pre race form guide in full detail before making a bet.

RSA Chase 2012 Racecard/Form

Last season's Neptune Novices Hurdle winner First Lieutenant has taken to fences this season and he looks a nice type over the bigger obstacles. He is clearly a classy horse on his day and he showed that winning the EBF Novices Chase at Cork with something in the locker in November. He disappointed next time out though when he was pulled up in the Drinmore Novices Chase at Fairyhouse, he was never travelling in a race won easily by the exciting Bog Warrior by 31 lengths.

Silvinicao Conti had a good season over hurdles last year but may have found his niche over the fences this campaign. He started off his season with an average run behind Cue Card at Cheltenham but impressed everyone next time when he won the Rising Stars Novice Chase at Wincanton over further. He came unstuck behind Grands Crus in the Feltham Novices Chase at Kempton over Christmas but still ran with credit ahead of the RSA Chase.

The exciting Grands Crus has made a winning debut over fences at Cheltenham as he won the Steel Plate and Sections Novice Chase in style at the Open Meeting. His main rival Cue Card unseated but apart from one mistake Grands Crus jumped well and had too much for them in a race won by the likes of Denman and Imperial Commander before. He has followed that up with a win in the GPG Novice Chase at Newbury to confirm his promise, he held off an exciting run by Sonofvic and both look like class acts.

The best performance of the season from Grands Crus came at Kempton in the Feltham Novices Chase as he simply blew away a decent field with a brilliant front running performance. The David Pipe horse jumped well for a novice as he beat good types like Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth who were nowhere to be seen and there are just one or two thoughts we could see him swere the RSA Chase for a tilt at the Gold Cup.

Philip Fenton is likely to send First Instalment to the RSA Chase at Cheltenham after he impressed when winning the Florida Peral Novice Chase in some style at Punchestown. The horse was slashed for the RSA Chase after the win which was on testing ground and he will be especially dangerous if the rain comes at Cheltenham.

We have seen the exciting Bobs Worth make his chasing debut and he stayed on well to beat Cue Card in the excellent London Pride Novices Chase at Newbury. The Nicky Henderson horse won the Albert Bartlett last season and was running at below his best trip which makes the nose win all the more impressive.

Paul Nicholls also has the excellent Join Together in his yard this season and he looked top class when he won the Ryman Novices Chase at the Cheltenham International Meeting. The horse runs in the Denman colours and beat a good field that day and looks a top class stayer who will get further than three miles later in his career.

• RSA Chase Form Guide and Race Card 2010/11

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