We are starting to get a taste of what is to come this jump season and what midweek cracker we have in store.
The Grade 3 BetVictor Chase line-up is lined with Group 1 winners.
Minella Indo, the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, is back to make it two from two in the BetVictor Chase.
Still, he won’t have it all his way as a two-time Grade 1 winning chaser, Conflated, lines up with King George’s winner, Hewick.
And yes, we know he only cost £800.
Before we get into my Runner By Runner Betting Guide, take a minute to look at the best online horse racing bookmakers for the best jump season betting offers.
BetVictor Chase Runner By Runner Betting Guide
Now it’s time to take a in-dept looking into runners of the BetVictor Chase and help you make a winning bet.
Conflated
Age: 10
Weight: 11-0
Form: UU326-
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 2/1
Having missed his intended target at Gorwan Park at the start of the month due to the change in the going, Conflated will look to run much better than he did when contesting the 2023 running of this race.
There is no doubt that he would have had a massive chance of getting his season off to a winning start had he taken his chance at Gorwan at the beginning of the month, but this is much deeper than the PWC Champion Chase.
Conflated was well-fancied to make a winning return to action in this race last season, but he was a distant last of the six runners.
There are a few reasons to take him on here, and none more evident than his lack of recording a win when racing right-handed over fences.
At his Age, you would expect Gordon to have him well forward for this, to capitalise on some early-season Graded races before the younger legs make their seasonal return.
But I have to take him on, given his record of racing right-handed. Added to the fact that he was well beaten in this very race last season, he is a reluctant pass today.
Gets weight off Minella Indo & Hewick
Grade 1 winning chaser
Yet to win racing right-handed over fences
Star Rating:
Minella Indo
Age: 11
Weight: 11-6
Form: /1443-
Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Odds: 9/4
I had the pleasure of seeing Minella Indo put through work when visiting Henry’s yard last week, and I can say, even at the ripe old Age of 11, he still looked sharp on the gallops.
He looks to make it back-to-back wins in this race, and even with him conceding weight to Conflated, I have Minella Indo at the top of my list.
His record speaks for itself: three wins from the last four seasons, first time up.
Undoubtedly, this would have been the early-season plan for this former Gold Cup winner and one he can take advantage of.
Added to the fact that he holds a good win record at Punchestown, everything points to Minella Indo getting off to another winning start this season.
A good win record first time out
Last season’s winner
Comes with a good track record
Age will catch up with him soon
Star Rating:
Bet on Minella Indo with talkSPORT BET
Hewick
Age: 9
Weight: 11-12
Form: 0163-2
Jockey: Jordon Gainford
Trainer: John Joseph Hanlon
Odds: 4/1
Given the lingering cloud of suspension hanging over trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, this may be the last run for Hewick in his care.
This Grade 1 King George-winning chaser famously only cost £800 (yes, we know), and it makes its seasonal debut in a hot Grade 3.
He is the only one of the top three in the market who will not be fully ready to go. His main early-season target is a trip to Kempton on St Stephens Day (or Boxing Day if you are from the UK), where he will look to retain the King George crown.
He has the talent to mix it with Conflated and Minella Indo. Still, this may be used as a prep run for bigger targets.
He is unlikely to win, but he should be running on strong at the finish.
Current King George winner
More than enough talent to win
Looks to be the start of his road to Kempton
Star Rating:
Minella Crooner
Age: 8
Weight: 11-0
Form: 33PP1-
Jockey: Danny Gilligan
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 10/1
He is the second of the three Gordon Elliott runners, but for me, he has a lot to find here.
In the 22/23 season, he threatened to become an up-and-coming staying chaser, but he has since become hard to predict.
A win first time up last season on bottomless ground at Wexford was followed by PU over 3m5 1/2 furlongs but then looked to be getting back on track with a close third to Jungle Boogie at Tramore on New Year’s Day.
But in typical Minella Crooner style, he was beaten out of sight the following three times he stepped foot on a race course (3rd, beaten 25 lengths, Pulled Up, and Pulled Up).
It was back to Punchestown for the Festival, and he managed to pull a win out of the bag at 25/1 in a Listed Chase.
Does he have it in him to run a big race on a track where he has tasted victory? Yes
Could you trust him? No, no, you can not.
Because the weather is easier to predict than what Minella Crooner will turn up, he’s been passed over today for the winning purpose.
The softer the ground, the better his chances
Impossible to predict
Star Rating:
Bet on Minella Crooner with VBET
French Dynamite
Age: 9
Weight: 11-0
Form: -24702
Jockey: Mark Walsh
Trainer: Mouse Morris
Odds: 14/1
A Graded winner in the past and once a 2nd in the Paddy Power Gold Cup behind Ga Law, it has been a big fall from grace for French Dynamite.
It’s hard to say that he got back to some form when 2nd to Visionarian in the PWC Champion Chase because five of the eight declared runners were taken out on the day, leaving only three runners.
If that gave him more confidence, he could kick on and get some way back to form, but this is much deeper than what he faced at Gorwan Park.
From what we know and have seen in the past few seasons, it’s easy to pass over.
Showed some signs of a revival at Gowran
Hasn’t shown anything to suggest that he is up to winning this
Star Rating:
Bet on French Dynamite with bet365
Hurricane Georgie
Age: 7
Weight: 10-10
Form: 11F6718
Jockey: Saw Ewing
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 14/1
Having run above and beyond what he showed when he placed second in this last season, I find it hard to see Hurricane Georgie match that, let alone better it this time.
This is a much better renewal than last season, so he must pull out a career-best to get involved today.
2nd in last season’s running of this
Needs a career-best
Star Rating:
Bet on Hurricane Georgie with Sky Bet
Visionarian
Age: 9
Weight: 11-8
Form: 12-P01
Jockey: Keith Donoghue
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Odds: 20/1
A smart type over fences, Visionarian got back to winning ways in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park last time out when beating French Dynamite by four lengths.
He didn’t have to improve on any of his previous winning form to get the job done, but that confidence booster may see him take another step forward here.
He looks a good each way play at the prices given his win last time out.
A lively outsider.
Grade 2 winner last time out
Has form to run into the places
Needs to kick on again
Star Rating:
Espanito Bello
Age: 10
Weight: 11-0
Form: PU3UP
Jockey: Michael O’Sullivan
Trainer: Barry Connell
Odds: 20/1
His form figures tell you all you need to know about the chances of Espanito Bello here.
There are more letters than numbers next to his name, and he is another you would be foolish to part with your money here, given everything we know about him.
He’s an easy pass in a race of this quality.
He has race fitness
Doesn’t have the form to win
Star Rating:
Bet on Espanito Bello with Midnite
Desertmore House
Age: 9
Weight: 11-0
Form: 1843-P
Jockey: Ricky Doyle
Trainer: Martin Brassil
Odds: 33/1
He pulled up on his comeback in the Kerry National, which was won by Flooring Porter. Desertmore House will likely come on for that, but he still looks out of his depth here.
Likely to be targeted at staying handicap chases this season, it would be a huge shock were Desertmore House to win here.
He may sneak a place if it turns into a stamina-sapping test.
Could outrun his odds given a proper test
Needs to find a career-best
Star Rating:
Bet on Desertmore House with Betano
BetVictor Chase Verdict
This is a cracking midweek treat for us, and I see MINELLA INDO making it back-to-back wins in the BetVictor Chase.
The former Gold Cup winner has a healthy first-time-out win record and a good record at Punchestown. Even given his age of 11, he still is the one they must beat.
If Conflated is ready to go, he will be the one to follow him home, along with Visionarian, at an each-way price.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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