5th-Nov-2016

I am backing Valseur Lido for the JNWine.com Champion Chase on Saturday.  The Gigginstown House horse is a top class staying chaser.  It is not certain whether or not he would have won the Irish Gold Cup last February when we had him on side at big prices had he not departed at the last, but he would have gone very close to beating Carlingford Lough at worst, and he would have finished clear of Road To Riches.

He wasn’t at all disgraced in finishing a staying-on second to Vautour in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, over a distance that was probably short of his best, and he was only just beaten by Menorah at Sandown on his final run last season, again over a trip/track combination that was probably on the sharp side for him.

He should be happier now, back over three miles, and he goes well fresh.  His record on his seasonal debut since he joined Gigginstown reads 112.

He has moved from Willie Mullins to Henry de Bromhead, but that is not a negative, de Bromhead is a top class trainer, and he excels with chasers.

The other worry is that, with multiple Gigginstown representatives among the entries, Valseur Lido will by-pass Saturday’s race.  But it looks like this is the right race for him, and the vibes about him running are positive.  That worry is factored into his odds.  It would be surprising if he were not much shorter than 6/1 if he is among the runners on Saturday morning.

VALSEUR LIDO WON (ADV 6/1, SP 2/1)