Time For Rupert a cert for RSA Chase?
Day Two | Paul Berry | February 22, 2011 at 9:08 am
Mr Chambers once again takes a look at Day 2 at the Festival and feels one horse more than justifies his short price in the RSA Chase.
With two authoritative displays at Prestbury Park this season Time For Rupert has propelled himself to favouritism in the RSA Chase. The Paul Webber-trained seven-year-old was a classy runner over hurdles last season and managed to finish a three-and-a-quarter length second to the incomparable Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle.
Since then he has made the transition to the larger obstacles with aplomb and has been put in at a short 5/2 favourite for the RSA on March 16. His first outing in a novice chase was just a gauge to Webber on if he could step up but the way he trounced a decent bunch of novices showed the definite wow factor.
He finished eight lengths clear of the second Hell’s Bay, who has since come out and beat Arkle hopeful Medermit, and beat other quality runners including Reve De Sivola and Othermix.
At the International Open meeting in December he was raised to three miles by Webber and went off a warm order. However, he didn’t disappoint favourite backers as he won with an ease that had some quarters pleading with Webber to give him a shot at the Gold Cup. He careered away from another decent bunch including Chicago Grey, Quinz and Cannington Brook and his eight length victory could have been more had jockey Will Kennedy pushed the gelding.
After that run he was put in around 33/1 for the Gold Cup but Webber is unlikely to tackle the crème de la crème of the jumping sphere and stick with the novice ranks.
At 5/2 you may feel he is very short but looking at the RSA opposition there has been little shown by other entries that should worry Time For Rupert and it appears that if he can reproduce the form he has shown he will join such greats as Looks Like Trouble and Denman on the roll of honour of the RSA Chase.
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