JLT Specialty Hcap Chase

by Darren Brett
A 3m1/2f Handicap Chase which often features past and future Grand National runners.

Despite being a handicap this has been a good race for punters over the years.

Fruity O'Rooney, The Package and the winner Alfie Sherrin towards the closing stages of the 2012 JLT Chase.

JLT Specialty Hcap Chase Trends

10/10	were aged seven to ten
10/10	were rated 129-143
9/10	carried no more than 10st 12lb
8/10	had a top three finish last time out
8/10	had no more than eleven starts over fences
7/10	came from the first four in the betting
7/10	ran no more than four times that season

JLT Specialty Hcap Chase Trends Analysis

The JLT Specialty Hcap Chase has been an excellent race for horses that have run well at previous Festivals with some horses managing to perform well in this race more than once. (Bensalem won here in 2011 and would have gone very close but for falling in 2010 and Ad Hoc, Juveigneur and Irish Hussar were all placed twice in the last ten years).

So focus on any previous Festival winner or previously placed horse from this race who are targeted here.

Whilst our trends highlight the good record of the first four horses in the betting in this race (eight out of the last ten winners), the favourite has a poor record with only two outright favourites winning since 1977.

JLT Specialty Hcap Chase Last Ten Winners

Table below shows the last ten winners of the race, their age/weight at the time of winning, trainer, jockey and odds (starting price).

Year	Horse	Age/Wt	Trainer	Jockey	Price
2013	Golden Chieftain	8-10-2	C Tizzard	B Powell	28/1
2012	Alfie Sherrin	9-10-0	JJ ONeill	R McLernon	14/1
2011	Bensalem	8-11-2	A King	R Thornton	5/1
2010	Chief Dan George	10-10-10	J Moffatt	P Aspell	33/1
2009	Wichita Lineman	8-10-9	JJ ONeill	AP McCoy	5/1F
2008	An Accordion	7-10-12	D Pipe	T Scudamore	7/1
2007	Joes Edge	10-10-6	F Murphy	D Russell	50/1
2006	Dun Doire	7-10-9	A Martin	R Walsh	7/1
2005	Kelami	7-10-2	F Doumen	R Thornton	8/1
2004	Fork Lightning	8-10-5	A King	R Thornton	7/1

JLT Specialty Hcap Chase Preview

Alan King has had two winners and a placed runner in the last eight years in this race and that score could be even better if the 2011 winner Bensalem had not come down at the old second-last fence here in 2010.

Nicky Henderson has had five horses placed in the equivalent race since 2005 and also recorded a victory with Marlborough in 2000. Horses from the Seven Barrows yard will definitely be worth considering for the 2013 renewal.

Novices also have a great record in this race so keep an eye out for any decent prospects who have taken a while to get their act together in their novice year as they could be well handicapped.