Nick Wilby takes a look at the 2010 RSA Chase.

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2.40 – RSA Chase
3m1/2f Grade 1 novice chase

A mouth-watering clash between Nicky Henderson’s superstar chasers Long Run (9/4, Paddy Power £100 free) and PUNCHESTOWNS (5/2, Paddy Power £100 free) who are already being tipped to replace Kauto Star and Denman at the head of the chasing division.  It looks like being one of the best races of the whole meeting and there are classy individuals wherever you look in the field.

Long Run is the current favourite for the race and he arrives at Cheltenham on the back of two mightily impressive victories in Britain.  After winning ten jumps races in his native France, he has since landed scintillating back-to-back victories at Kempton and Warwick and looks an absolute superstar in the making. 

However, a formidable challenge comes in the shape of Punchestowns who has entered the chasing game as one of the best staying hurdlers in the business.  Second to the mighty Big Buck’s in last year’s World Hurdle he has since completed facile victories in both his starts over the larger obstacles and he has looked a very usefully jumper.  He will take a world of beating and he has the bonus of having Barry Geraghty in the saddle.  Weapon’s Amnesty (8/1, Paddy Power £100 free bet) and Diamond Harry (6/1, Paddy Power £100 free bet) may pose the biggest danger to Henderson’s duo.

Nick Wilby’s selection – Punchestowns (5/2, Paddy Power £100 free)

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