With weak early pace expected in this Class 4 Handicap Chase, positioning will be key, and there’s reason to believe that the market may be underestimating a progressive chaser at a fair price.

Strongest Contender: ROCK ON JET (11/4)

While Sunnyvilla heads the market at a short price after a convincing win at Haydock, ROCK ON JET offers the best combination of upside and value.

George Bewley’s six-year-old was impressive when winning a handicap hurdle at this track on heavy ground, making all and seeing off rivals comfortably. His pedigree suggests plenty of untapped potential over fences, and with the powerful assistance of Brian Hughes, he’s in prime position to track the pace before pouncing late.

With a fair opening chase mark and improvement to come, he looks overpriced compared to the favourite.

Market Oversight: FUSAIN (10/1) Could Trade Much Shorter In-Running

At first glance, Fusain doesn’t inspire confidence, given his poor recent form figures. However, digging deeper, there are reasons to believe he could trade much shorter in-running.

He’s one of the few in this race likely to be prominent early and, if the race unfolds at a crawl, could find himself dictating the tempo or getting a handy position without much pressure.

His record off a break isn’t encouraging, but he’s well-handicapped on old form and is one of the few with past performances in better company. While winning may be a stretch, he could be a back-to-lay proposition on the exchanges.

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Verdict & Betting Strategy

• Back ROCK ON JET (11/4) – Progressive, well-placed, and represents value over the favourite.
• Back-to-lay FUSAIN (10/1) – Will race prominently and could shorten significantly in-play.

Would be no surprise to see Sunnyvilla go close again, but at the prices, he’s worth taking on in a tactical race where track position will be key.