The 888Sport Handicap Chase (Saturday 23 February 2019) dates back to 1949 and has previously been known as the Racing Post Chase, the Betbright Chase, and the Betdaq Chase.
It is run over three miles at Kempton and offers an excellent first prize of £56,950. Notable winners include Crisp, Pendil, Rhyme ‘n’ Reason, Desert Orchid, Docklands Express, and Rough Quest.
888Sport Handicap Chase 10-Year-Trends
- The last 10 winners have been aged between seven and 11
- Weights of between 10-2 and 11-11 have been carried to victory, with seven winners carrying 11-0 or less
- Winners have been rated between 130 and 154
- No favourite has won in the last 10 years
- SP’s of the winners have ranged from 9/2 to 28/1
888Sport Handicap Chase 2019 Main Contenders
Glen Rocco
Eight-year-old who has run well on his two previous runs at Kempton, when second to Glen Forza over two and a half miles and when a wide-margin winner over three miles last time out. The handicapper has raised him 13lb for that victory but, as Glen Forza has gone up around 30lb since he was second to him, there could still be plenty of improvement to come.
Adrien Du Pont
Seven-year-old who had not looked particularly well-handicapped on a mark of 144 in his first two handicaps over fences but won well over course and distance last time. Up to a mark of 151 now, so needs to improve again, but he runs in the same colours as stablemate Cyrname who has improved out of all recognition on his last two runs.
Janika
Ran well to finish second on both runs for Nicky Henderson since arriving from France but the handicapper has raised him 11lb for those efforts. That leaves him needing to defy a mark higher than any of the last 10 winners and he’s also younger than any of those winners at the age of six. Needs to find improvement for stepping up to three miles for the first time.
Talk Is Cheap
Novice chaser whose form behind La Bague Au Roi on his first two runs over fences reads well, whilst he was also trying to give 6lb to On The Blind Side last time over course and distance, who was a superior hurdler to him, and he was upsides that horse at the last when making a mistake. The handicapper has kindly left him on the same mark of 145 and he looks to have a win in him of that mark if he can avoid making a mistake.
888Sport Handicap Chase 2019 Betting Tip
Glen Rocco deserves to be favourite as his course form is working out well but, as favourites have such a poor record in the race, he could be worth taking on. The horse to take him on with could be Talk Is Cheap, who was in the process of running a mighty race until making a mistake at the last over course and distance last time, and he looks the each-way play.
888Sport Handicap Chase Tip
Talk Is Cheap (Each-Way)