The prestigious £105,000 25th Anniversary Of The Victor Chandler Chase, one of Ascot's premier jump races, is sponsored by Victor Chandler for the 25th consecutive year in 2012.
This year's race, which takes place over two miles and a furlong on Saturday, January 21, has attracted 12 top-notch entries.
Plenty of top-class performers have added their names to the roll of honour, with the great grey Desert Orchid famously seeing off Panto Prince to capture the race in 1989.
The contest has also proved to be a good stepping stone to the Queen Mother Champion Chase, with Viking Flagship (1994), Call Equiname (1999), and Master Minded (2009) all completing the double in the same season - Master Minded is also the only horse to capture this race twice, after narrowly fighting off Somersby last year.
Forpadydeplasterer, a 10/1 shot with Victor Chandler, will attempt to become the third Irish-trained horse to win the race, but the first since it was promoted to Grade One level in 2007.
The 2009 Arkle winner has not won since that Cheltenham victory, but he has run very well in defeat on a number of occasions since and trainer Tom Cooper was delighted with his third behind Big Zeb at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Cooper, who trains in co County Kerry, said: “You would have to be very happy with his last performance, but for making a mistake at the last he would have been bang there. We will definitely consider the Victor Chandler now.”
Cooper also suggested that Forpadydeplasterer will be aimed at the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but will also be given an entry in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has a tremendous recent record in the Victor Chandler Chase, winning the past three renewals, and this season he has entered the exciting novice Al Ferof (5/2), and Kauto Star's half-brother Kauto Stone (6/1). Nicholls revealed yesterday that Al Ferof is his possible representative this year, with Kauto Stone probably waiting for the Grade One Betfair Ascot Chase on February 18.
Nicky Henderson said yesterday that he will be represented by last season's Arkle Chase runner-up Finian's Rainbow (11/4), who returned to action season with a narrow success in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on December 27. Second and third that day were Philip Hobbs' Wishfull Thinking (8/1) and Colin Tizzard's Oiseau de Nuit (25/1), both whom could reoppose.
David Pipe claimed the prize in 2008 with Tamarinbleu, and accounts for one quarter of this season's entries with Dan Breen (50/1), I'msingingtheblues (25/1), and I'm So Lucky (50/1) all engaged.
The Peterborough Chase winner Gauvain (7/1) has been given an entry by trainer Nick Williams, along with the runner-up Somersby (5/1), whose trainer Henrietta Knight is likely to make a decision on his participation nearer the time.
The entries are completed by Chris Gordon's King Edmund (50/1), who won a handicap chase over the course and distance at Ascot's Christmas meeting.
Charlie McCann, Director of Online Public Relations at Victor Chandler, said: “We are delighted with the quality of the entries for the 25th year of our sponsorship of the Victor Chandler Chase.
“The inaugural race was won by the iconic grey Desert Orchid and champion trainer Paul Nicholls has suggested that his novice, the brilliant grey Al Ferof, will be targeted at the 2012 renewal, and we make him our 5/2 favourite.
“The first three home in the recent Desert Orchid Chase will, fittingly, lock horns again and we are looking forward to welcoming the connections of Irish raider Forpadydeplasterer for what promises to be a cracking race.”
To Win the 25th Anniversary of the Victor Chandler Chase, Victor Chandler bet: 5/2 Al Ferof; 11/4 Finian's Rainbow; 5/1 Somersby; 6/1 Kauto Stone; 7/1 Gauvain; 8/1 Wishfull Thinking; 10/1 Forpadydeplasterer; 25/1 I'msingingtheblues; 25/1 Oiseau De Nuit; 33/1 I'm So Lucky; 50/1 Dan Breen; 50/1 King Edmund
Each-way Terms 1/4 Odds A Place 1,2,3. All Quoted, All in Run Or Not
