User Review
( votes)Kinloch Brae Chase – Race Preview
Thursday sees the annual running of the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles in Ireland. Run over two miles and four furlongs, the Kinloch Brae Chase is a Grade 2 contest and was first run in 1997. Thursday’s race sees eleven runners set to go to post, including last year’s winner Don Cossack.
Don Cossack is the short priced ante-post favourite as he looks to get back to winning ways following his fall at the second last fence in the King George on Boxing Day at Kempton. Travelling strongly in the closing stages, many feel that had Don Cossack not fallen, he may well have won the race. Prior to the King George, Don Cossack had been successful in a Grade 3 contest at Punchestown before following up with victory in a Grade 1 chase at Down Royal. Although dropping down in trip on Thursday, Don Cossack was successful over two miles and four furlongs at Aintree and he is very the much the horse to beat.
The current ante-post second favourite is Smashing, trained by Henry de Bromhead. Down the field in last year’s Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, Smashing made a winning return this season when landing a heavy ground contest over two miles and four furlongs at Gowran Park in November. With some solid novice form, Smashing may well be the one to chase Don Cossack home.
Rubi Light comes into the race on the back of a solid second behind Sir Des Champs in a Listed contest at Thurles in November. Having racked up a hat-trick of wins at the start of last year before running in the Grand National at Aintree, it may well be that Thursday’s race is a stepping stone to another potential Aintree attempt.
Wounded Warrior is set to make his first appearance since last April in Thursday’s race, as he looks to build on a strong novice season in which he placed third in the RSA chase at the Cheltenham Festival and second in the Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival. Set to run off the same mark as that Punchestown second, Wounded Warrior may well run a big race and at the prices may be the each-way bet of the race.
Clarcam tops the weights alongside Don Cossack for Thursday’s race but has struggled for form this year after a strong novice season. Still on a mark of 153 despite not winning any of his five races this season, it may be that a further drop in the weights will be required to see the six-year old return to winning ways.
Don Cossack is the current 1.20 (1/5) ante-post favourite with Smashing available at 6 (5/1). Rubi Light and Wounded Warrior are both 15 (14/1) and Clarcam is 26 (25/1). The horse racing tip for Thursday’s Kinloch Brae Chase is a straight forecast bet of Don Cossack to beat Smashing.
By: Scott McGlynn