Moore Set To Be Merrier

With the top three in the handicap virtually ruled out, the Victor Chandler Chase looks an interesting contest.

The presence of Grade One winners Foreman, Voy Por Ustedes and Central House would surely have put quite a few trainers off the two-mile-one-furlong feature.

However, with the path now clear it is Arthur Moore's Irish raider Mansony who makes most appeal to take the prize back to the Emerald Isle.

The eight-year-old is a 5-1 chance with the sponsor after winning on his seasonal bow at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.

Notching a fourth win over fences, Mansony defied a lengthy absence to hold Our Ben in a decent event over the Ascot distant.

He appeared to be a bit short of room after the second-last fence but he hit the front on the run to last and despite edging right, kept on well to come home two lengths clear.

That was Mansony's first win over further than two miles and he was atoning for a fall on his final start of the previous campaign.

After winning on his chasing debut last term, Moore certainly aimed high with Mansony, tackling three Grade One novice events, managing a third place in the Drinmore Chase over two and a half miles.

After a disastrous show in the Irish Arkle, Mansony showed his running to be all wrong with victory in a Grade Two followed by another win in a minor event at Naas.

A trip to Aintree proved too much for the Mansonnien gelding though, and he put in moody display after failing to jump off, although he showed that to be a one-off when running a much better race before falling at Fairyhouse.

The eight-year-old could have any amount of improvement still to come and his Leopardstown victory shows he is in a good frame of mind at present.

Our Ben is a decent yardstick and the form has a solid look so even with a 4lb penalty for that win, Mansony makes plenty of appeal.

With the weights set to rise a minimum of 5lb, Mansony certainly looks well in off an original mark of 10st and a big run looks guaranteed

(C) PA Sport