Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon today

Huntinhgdon stages ist biggest race of the season today. the Grade Two Peterborough Chase over 2 1/2 miles at 15.00 and which has attracted a decent field; the race will be run next year on the Sunday, which we feel is a pity. Top-rated is Captain Chris (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), after his second place in the King George, but he also has to give weight away and on official ratings Riverside Threatre (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty), in receipt of 10 lbs, is best in. That however is based on his excellent 2011-12 form, when he won the Ryanair Chase - with Captain Chris a well-beaten 4th, and that form would give him an excellent chance. However his form last season was poor and he was well behind Captain Chris in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April, the last time out for them both. Riverside Theatrewas only 4th in this year´s Ryanair, with Champion Court (Martin Keighley( Ian Popham) 5th and German-bred Ghizao (Paul Nicholls/ Daryl Jacob) tailed off. With question-marks over all of these, this leaves us with Module (Tom George/ Paddy Brennan), the youngest horse in the field, who ran an excellent race last time when beaten a head by Somersby at Exeter; that form looks good, and the extra half-mile today should be in Module´s favour, so he is our selection.

However Henderson and Geraghty fare in that race, we certainly expect them to win the mares novice chase at 14.00 with Une Artiste, who was easily ther best of these over hurdles and made a pleasing debut over fences. They also have a solid each-way chance with Springinherstep at 14.30, but we are not so sure about debutant Nordic Quest in the novice hurdle at 16.00. Namibian (John Ferguson/ Denis O´Regan) had smart flat form two years ago- winning the Queens Vase and Gordon Stakes- before a bad attack of colic put him out of action. John Ferguson does really well with these ex-Maktoum flat horses and he can outclass this opposition.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Shadarpour - Zafaraban - Larteta
2. Race: Baby Shine - Tempest River - Me And Ben
3. Race: Keltus - Prompter - Springinherstep
4. Race: Captain Chris - Riverside Theatre - Module
5. Race: Rossa Parks - Flemi Two Toes - Ya Hafed
6. Race: Namibian - Nordic Quest - Wadswick Court
7. Race: Minella Present - Brother Tedd - Paradise Valley