Betfair Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Lancashire Chase)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 43.20s

Ballyoptic^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 159

12/1

Quality chaser that has refound some of his best form this autumn, winner at Chepstow and then taking the Grade 2 Charlie Hall at Wetherby on latest start; clearly no mug but finds himself in top company here, and needs more again.

Form: F6PF-11

Bristol De Mai²³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 170| CD

5/4

Track champion, winner of this for the last two years and had a great season last year, third in the Gold Cup after a better preparation and bound to be tuned up for this; handles all ground and the others will need to be good to take his crown.

Form: 32/1F34-

Frodon^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 169| C

6/1

Uses his excellent jumping technique to good effect to score in top Graded company with regularity, including last season's Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham; stays this far and little to find on the figures, but a tough ask all the same.

Form: 12111-3

Lostintranslation²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 161

5/4

Exciting chaser that consistently ran to a very high level in top novice company last year, finishing off with victory in the Grade 1 Mildmay at Aintree; looks Gold Cup material this year and will prove a big threat to Bristol De Mai.

Form: 31221-1

Forecasts

Lostintranslation (5/4), Bristol De Mai (5/4), Frodon (6/1), Ballyoptic (12/1)

Only the four, but what a four. In the red corner, the reigning champion, BRISTOL DE MAI, winner of this for the past two years and nigh-on unbeatable at what is a "home" fixture for him. And in the blue, the up-and-coming Lostintranslation, impressive winner of the Mildmay last year and threw in some breathtaking leaps on his reappearance win at Carlisle last month. It may be that by the season's end the the latter is the stronger Gold Cup candidate, but for today, Bristol De Mai looks the better equipped to cope with this test. If either (or both) fail to fire, Frodon could benefit, and he is a true Grade 1 horse in his own right. Ballyoptic has more to do.