Richest Chandler Chase up for grabs
Next week’s highlight is undoubtedly the £120,000 (€184,000) Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.
The race, which includes Desert Orchid, Waterloo Boy, Viking Flagship and Call Equiname among its past winners, has been doubled in value making it the richest two-mile handicap chase run in Britain.
Last year’s winner Turgeonev has been reported to be on course to bid for a repeat.
Also entered are Wave Rock and Davoski, second and third respectively in last season’s contest.
The total prize money for the seven-race programme at the Berkshire track is £204,000 (€313,000) with three races shown live on BBC.
Channel 4 attheraces cameras will be at Uttoxeter and Warwick the same afternoon. They will televise two races from Uttoxeter and four from Warwick.
Feature race on the latter card is the Tote Classic Chase, a Listed three and a quarter miles contest with a total prize fund of £100,000 (€153,000).
This valuable event is a possible target for Coral Welsh National winner Mini Sensation.
However, the main betting heat of the week could be in Ireland at Leopardstown on Sunday with the running of the €130,000 Pierse Handicap Hurdle which is sure to be a highly-competitive affair.
Kelso stages a strong card on Friday which features the £20,000 Morebattle Hurdle, a showcase handicap over an extended two miles.
Jumps meeting earlier in the week at Fontwell, Hereford and Sedgefield could be under threat if the current spell of heavy rain does not relent.
But there is an all-weather Flat card scheduled for each day next week to keep the sport ticking over in the event of further adverse weather conditions.
Channel 4 attheraces’ lunchtime slot returns next week with a race shown at 12.45pm Monday to Friday.
Fixtures (Flat in capitals):
Monday: Fontwell (CH4), Hereford and WOLVERHAMPTON.
Tuesday: Leicester, Sedgefield and LINGFIELD (CH4).
Wednesday: Catterick, Newbury (CH4) and LINGFIELD.
Thursday: SOUTHWELL, Wetherby (CH4) and Wincanton.
Friday: Kelso, Huntingdon (CH4) and WOLVERHAMPTON.
Saturday: Ascot (BBC), LINGFIELD, Uttoxeter (CH4) and Warwick (CH4).
