Jake Price's Ante-Post Bet for Sodexo Regal Handicap Chase

TIP 1: THOMAS MOR - 1pt EW (4 Places)

Best odds of 16/1 at Skybet, Paddy Power while publishing.

Over the Summer I like to plot out some potential targets for Horses on my radar, and the Sodexo now named after Regal Encore was the exact target that I had in mind for THOMAS MOR, who looks to have very strong claims yet is a wild price currently.

This 9yo had a tremendous Novice Chase campaign last year, starting off here at Ascot in November when winning a 2m5f Beginners Chase at Ascot in good style despite the race containing Lucky Place who was sent off the 1/2f. He jumped well and once again proved he performs well fresh, extending his record of returning after a break of 164+ days of 111.

On his next start though he went to Kempton for Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase, and he ran another absolute cracker to finish second behind Kitzbuhel, only beaten 2.75 lengths. Considering that Horse is well fancied for the King George on Boxing Day and has won the Brown Advisory since, you’d have to say it is a top class piece of form, with Wendigo (147) and Salver (150) also behind to give it an even stronger look.

He rounded off his campaign in that aforementioned Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but I just don't think he goes as well left-handed. His record going right however reads 11112, so clearly returning to Ascot is going to be massive positive for him - especially as he is unbeaten at the track.

The Sodexo at Saturday is the target for this Horse despite having a few entries, and Johnson White is excited to run him here. The main concern would be that he has to run off top weight with a mark of 147, but I think he is well capable of dispatching this field which isn't looking the strongest, especially considering the strength of his Graded form. He could be one for Grade 2 Chases going forward if he is able to land a race like this.