Bensalem is my selection for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival 2010 on Wednesday 17 March 2010. Grab the 33/1 with the totesport as soon as you can. Free money is available for traders as the horse can be laid at 27 on Betfair so the price won’t last for long. If Bensalem makes it to the race then I expect him to start at a single figure price on the day. The race has been a lucky one for me over the years with Lord Noelie, One Knight and Trabolgan all backed and tipped at 33/1. So can Bensalem be another 33/1 winner?
I think he can so let’s look at his claims. Overall, he boost an excellent record over both hurdles and chases of 5 wins out of 7 starts having come 2nd in both defeats. The first of those was a close defeat to Diamond Harry who was extremely impressive at Haydock and takes on Big Bucks this weekend. The other was over an unsuitable distance, 2m 3f at Exeter, in his most recent run. Surprisingly he was pushed out from a best price 16/1 to a stand out 33/1 with totesport. Given the distance, the poor form of the Alan King yard and the fact the race was run on heavy, this run was fine and he will show dramatic improvement when sent over a trip closer to the 3 miles of the RSA Chase on better ground.
Bensalem has the typical profile of an RSA Chase winner. He’s the right age (8 out of the last 10 winners were 7) and he’s a late developing national hunt bred with good quality hurdle form from last season.
I can see the odds come tumbling down following his next outing over a longer trip and when the Alan King stable is back in form. His bad form can’t last the whole season…can it?
There are several other unexposed horses open to improvement and the favourite Punchestowns has to be a contender but my selections are all about value and at 33/1 Bensalem is worth a punt.
Recommended bet: 1 point ew Bensalem 33/1
