AN outstanding edition of the Savills Chase could be in the offing on Friday as a host of the best staying chasers in the country, headed by the Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy, are set to do battle.

Hopefully the ground will ease sufficiently to allow Presenting Percy to take his chance as he produced a display of tremendous quality to win the RSA Chase at Cheltenham when he was last seen in action. The manner in which he disposed of a quality field last March bore all the hallmarks of an outstanding staying chaser and his position in the Gold Cup market is fully warranted.

VULNERABLE

However, his lack of a previous run this season could make him vulnerable and he faces quite a test for his return to the track. Indeed some of the strongest form lines in staying chasing are on show here as last year’s Gold Cup third and fourth, Anibale Fly and Road To Respect, could both line up. Road To Respect boasts the strongest credentials by virtue of his commanding return to action in a Grade 1 at Down Royal last month and he also won this race 12 months ago.

A big run from Shattered Love looks entirely likely. She has yet to win in two starts this season but there was a lot to like about the way she finished out her race when chasing home Min in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown earlier in the month. Twice last season she defeated the geldings at Grade 1 level and she may well be at her best on her return to three miles.

The high-class novice chaser Monalee supplies further interest while Willie Mullins has an impressive array of talent to rely on. Kemboy is a coming force in this division, Al Boum Photo’s Grade 1 credentials are already established and Bellshill ended last season with a victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup which cemented his credentials at this level. If Bellshill maintains the impressive progress he made last season he will be a very potent force at this level over the coming months.

STAR MARE

Earlier, Apple’s Jade can make it back to back victories in the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle. Gordon Elliott’s star mare was never better than when winning the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse earlier this month when she chased a strong pace and then proceeded to annihilate a quality field.

As a result of that display the Apple’s Jade has risen to a career high rating of 162 and this mare of rare and distinguished quality will take all the beating once more. She showed in this race last season that she was quite comfortable at this trip and it will take quite an effort to lower her colours if she turns up in the same form that she did at Fairyhouse.

Supasundae was beaten 20 lengths in the Hatton’s Grace but will surely get closer as a result of that comeback outing. Faugheen was decisively beaten by Sharjah in last month’s Morgiana Hurdle but now returns to a trip over which he produced his best effort last season.

EYE-CATCHING

A number of entries for the Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase catch the eye and none more so than Next Destination. He was one of the top novice hurdlers of last season as evidenced by Grade 1 wins at Naas and Punchestown either side of a good third to Samcro at Cheltenham. It will be a surprise if he doesn’t emerge as one of the season’s star novice chasers.