River City swell ahead of Ascot bid

Noel Chance hopes River City can earn a crack at the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase with a prominent showing at Ascot on Saturday.

The gelding has won 10 times in a 28-race career and showed he is no back-number landing the Grade Two Celebration Chase at Sandown last April.

Having finished fourth behind Voy Por Ustedes at Kempton over the festive period, Chance is now keen to saddle him in the Grade One Commercial First Ascot Chase at the Berkshire venue.

“River City will definitely run at the weekend,” he confirmed.

“Conditions will probably not be great for him but we have to give him a run before the Queen Mother, so regardless of the conditions he’s going to line up.

“I was happy enough with his run last time. He wasn’t quite fit and was giving weight away to top horses but it’s level weights this time, so it’s fingers crossed.”

Chance still has a great deal of faith in his 10-year-old but admits he is likely to be a different proposition once the ground improves.

“Good ground is a prerequisite really but at this time of year you don’t really expect it and we have to get a run into him to leave him right for Cheltenham,” he added.