Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1)

A RETURN to his familiar stamping ground, where he is close to invincible, enabled Chacun Pour Soi to get his season back on track as he overpowered his four rivals in a manner that we have become so accustomed to over the last few years.

Two months previously, the Susannah Ricci-owned gelding posted an extremely rare below par effort when running no sort of race in the Tingle Creek. That his Sandown effort was no more than a blip was borne out as he looked back to his imperious best to signal that he, along with stablemate Energumene, will present Shishkin with a mighty test. The potential for a clash between these three in next month’s Champion Chase could be the highlight of the week at Prestbury Park next month.

Chacun Pour Soi and Paul Townend initially settled in behind Dunvegan before moving to the head of the field after halfway. There was a moment coming to two out where the 4/7 favourite looked as if he might have to fight hard as Dunvegan came up on winner’s outer and Greaneteen loomed up on the inner.

This was only a momentary flicker though as Townend let out a little bit of rein and asked his mount to assert. The response was a trademark one from Chacun Pour Soi as he surged clear of his toiling rivals, pinged the last and went to the line with gusto to score by a dozen lengths from Dunvegan. There was a further four and a half lengths back to Captain Guinness. Greaneteen finished tailed off in fifth.

Good form

“He’s back to himself. I thought he was in very good form all week and he’s been training very well. I thought I had him very ready the last time and he disappointed so I said I would try and get him here at 95% and maybe he’s just better like that,” said the trainer. “That’s what I will do in the future and hopefully I can get him across the water in that sort of form. He just doesn’t seem to bring his A game once he gets on the ferry.

“Maybe I’ll go (to Cheltenham) undercooked as opposed to going over there properly cooked. Maybe the travelling takes something out of him and we do feel that a day on the boat is like a piece of work. He hasn’t ever brought the form he shows here to England and hopefully he might put that right. He’ll be back at Cheltenham in March.”