Betdaq Chase favourite Acting Lass hoping to maintain unbeaten chasing record
Harry Fry's Acting Lass is unbeaten over fences but meets his biggest challenge to date in Kempton's newly-sponsored Betdaq Handicap Chase on Saturday.
ACTING LASS will be hoping to keep his unbeaten act over fences going in the Betdaq Handicap Chase at Kempton on Saturday.
The three-mile Grade 3 contest looks like a typically-competitive renewal and has a new sponsor for this year's renewal, with Betdaq taking over from BetBright.
Harry Fry's improving gelding has won his first three chasing starts at Market Rasen, Leicester and Ascot.
The six-year-old is a stone higher in the weights than when making a successful start to his chasing career and Fry is keeping his fingers crossed he can continue his progression and bring a second win in the race for the trainer.
Fry, who won with Opening Batsman in 2013, said: "He won a nice prize the last day, so hopefully he can continue in the form he has been in. That would be nice.
"It will be his first time at three miles and I think he should it get around Kempton."
Barry Geraghty will ride the Fergal O'Brien-trained Master Dee for the first time, who is one of two contenders for owners Paul and Clare Rooney along with Jonjo O'Neill's Go Conquer.
O'Brien said: "He has been waiting for the ground to dry up a bit. It is still not as dry as we would like it, but we need to get on and run him.
"I think three miles is far enough for him. You wouldn't want to race him over three miles around Cheltenham, but around Kempton he should hold his own.
"Hopefully there will be something at Aintree for him as he has run well there before, possibly the Topham could be for him."
Matt Chapman's TV Tips
1.50 Kempton - Cyrname: 'Should just be too good'
2.05 Lingfield - Gracious John: 'A class act on his day'
2.25 Kempton - Redicean: 'Impressed here lately'
2.45 Newcastle -Hainan: 'Will relish conditions'
3.00 Kempton - Scarlet Dragon: 'Smart Flat performer'
3.15 Lingfield - Convey: 'Can repeat his win in this'
3.35 Kempton - Master Dee: 'Should relish this trip'
O'Brien's former boss Nigel Twiston-Davies is double-handed in the race with Tintern Theatre and Ballykan.
Twiston-Davies said: "Tintern Theatre did win well there last time. It is slightly different ground as it was really soft last time as it poured with rain, but we are very pleased with him.
"He is a novice and has got a very good profile for the race.
"He is a smashing work horse. He is nice and keen and does it well."
Consistent mare Theatre Territory is at the bottom of the 15-strong field for Warren Greatrex.
The eight-year-old, who carries the colours of Robert Waley-Cohen and is ridden by his son, Sam, is fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.
Greatrex said: "She's been running very consistently all season and probably should have won by now. She was beaten a length by Ms Parfois at Cheltenham (in December), which looks very good form now, and she probably should have won that day.
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"I think stepping up to three miles on drier ground will suit her and we're hoping the cheekpieces will just sharpen her up a bit.
"Hopefully she's got a good each-way chance in an open and competitive race."
The weights are headed by Colin Tizzard's Theatre Guide, who claimed the prize in 2016.
Other contenders include the Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Art Mauresque and As De Mee, Charlie Longsdon's duo of Loose Chips and Monbeg Charmer and Nicky Henderson's Josses Hill, who sports first-time blinkers.