THE last three winners of the Sodexo Live! Handicap Chase all line up in this year’s renewal at Ascot today.

It was the Byrne Group Handicap Chase when Boothill won it off a mark of 149 in 2023. Harry Fry’s horse won again over the same course and distance three weeks later off a mark of 155 but, while he kept good company thereafter, he hasn’t won again since.

The handicapper has given him a chance though, he is down to a mark of 137 and, back at Ascot, where he has won three times, he is a player.

It was the Byrne Group Handicap Chase again in 2024 when Martator won it off a mark of 134. Venetia Williams’ horse didn’t win again until he sprang a 66/1 shock in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March, and he is up to a mark of 144 now, 10lb higher than he was when he won the race two years ago.

Teddy Blue won the race last year, he took it up from Sans Bruit on the run to the second last fence, and he kept on well from there, always holding Gabriel’s Getaway on the run to the ling.

He raced off a mark of 131 that day and, while he couldn’t follow up over the same course and distance three weeks later off a mark of 135, he did prove in the spring that that wasn’t his true running.

He won at Kempton in February off a mark of 132, and he probably put up a career-best performance on his final run last season when he finished third in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase at Sandown, behind horses rated 143 and 151 respectively, to whom he was conceding 4lb.

That run may have flattered him though, and a 9lb hike to a mark of 144 looked harsh.

Upward trajectory

Haas Boy hasn’t won this race before, but he does go well at Ascot, and he finished off last season on a nice upward trajectory. Winner of a novices’ handicap chase at Wincanton in early March off a mark of 106, he followed up at Ascot later that month off a mark of 114.

It was a 0-140 contest and, even though the top-weight was rated just 122, he won nicely. He travelled like the most likely winner from the home turn, but he idled when he hit the front. He slowed on the run into the final fence and jumped it without momentum, so he did well to rally like he did on the far side to hold on from Authoceltic and Pure Carbon, who won at Stratford three weeks later off the same mark.

The handicapper raised Haas Boy by 6lb to a mark of 120 for that, which was reasonable. He started off this season nicely with a fine run over hurdles at Chepstow three weeks ago, when he travelled into his race really strongly and failed by just a neck to catch Gower Prince.

That should have brought him forward nicely for today’s contest, a race that Chester Williams surely has had as his target for a little while. He is one for one at Ascot, over today’s course and distance, and the ground should be ideal.

Ascot to suit

The ground should also be ideal for Tapley in the Sodexo Live! Regal Encore Handicap Chase run over three miles 33 minutes later.

A progressive novice chaser for Suzy Smith last season, the Geordieland gelding is two for two now since joining the Moores.

After staying on nicely to win at Fontwell in September off a mark of 120, he was good again at Plumpton last time, off a mark of 123, making most of the running and sticking to his task well to see off the persistent challenge of Palamon.

It did get tight on the rail on the run-in, but it is difficult to argue that the best horse on the day didn’t win.

A 5lb penalty takes him up to a mark of 128 and, while he is 2lb poorly-in today, that was not harsh. He goes into today’s race on a nice upward trajectory, and he should be suited by the return to a right-handed track. He was consistently out to his right at Plumpton, which wasn’t ideal at a tight left-handed track. He should be more at home today going right at Ascot.

Recommended:

Haas Boy, 2.00 Ascot, 13/2 (generally), 1 point win

Tapley, 2.33 Ascot, 9/1 (generally), 1 point win