Madison Du Berlais is the class act in tomorrow’s Racing Post Chase at Kempton(3.05) and looks outstanding each-way value at 8-1.
David Pipe’s nine-year-old showed his liking for the Sunbury course when beating Denman by 23 lengths in the Grade 2 Levy Board Chase, a race in which he beat the third home Albertas Run by 48 lengths and Niche Market by a whopping 69 lengths.
Many questioned the form, believing that Denman had run way below par, but to my eyes it has a solid look as Niche market has gone on to win an Irish National and finished runner-up to Denman in this year’s Hennessy.
Madison went on to land the land the Totesport Bowl at Aintree in terrific style, and showed that he was still a real force to be reckoned with this season when finishing runner-up to the brilliant Kauto Star in the King George.
He had Nacarat four and a half lengths behind him in fourth that day, and although Tom George’s charge is 4lb better off I don’t think that will be enough to turn the form around.
The selection ran very lazily in the race, looking beaten a long way from home before rallying and staying on strongly to snatch second.
The manner in which he raced suggested that he would benefit from the application of some headgear, and it’s interesting that he is fitted with blinkers for the first time tomorrow.
Another plus factor is that the Pipe team are now in flying form, whereas at Christmas they were struggling to saddle a winner of any nature.
Tom Scu is also riding better than ever, and if he can get Madison into a nice rhythm over the first few fences he has to be the one that they all have to beat.
I can’t for the life of me see any reason why he should be nearly three times the price of Nacarat, and at the odds on offer he looks a rock solid each-way bet to nothing.
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Recommended bet: 5pts each-way Madison Du Berlais (8-1 Ladbrokes, Hills)
