How do this year's leading contenders conform to the top RSA Chase trends?

1. Did not run on the flat - 10 winners in the last 10 runnings
Clearly, this is not a race for flat types.

2. Finished first or second last time out - 10/10
The Market Man was a well-beaten fourth in the Feltham last time out.

3. Off the track for at least 27 days - 10/10
Both Cooldine (24 days) and Carruthers (25 days) need to overcome this stat.

4. Chase RPR (Racing Post Rating) of at least 141 - 10/10

5. Ran at least three times over fences - 9/10
With just two chase runs under his belt, What A Friend is less experienced than your typical RSA Chase winner.

6. Previous season's best RPR over hurdles no higher than 135 - 9/10
Most of the winners tend to be slow-maturing sorts rather than precocious hurdlers.

7. Aged seven to eight - 8/10
Both What A Friend and Carruthers are six-year-olds and the latter, although officially in that age group, isn't actually six until April.

Conclusion:
This year's race is wide-open and there are trends negatives for several of those at the head of the market. What A Friend (11/2 Sportingbet) has looked good in both his starts this season, jumping particularly well each time, but he's younger and less experienced than your typical winner and he's not much of a price either around the 5/1 mark.

Similar comments apply to Carruthers (15/2 bet365) and winners of the Reynoldstown (which he won by 54 lengths last time out!) usually get beaten here (record of 2P531), although Albertas Run bucked that trend last season.

Cooldine (5/1 William Hill) ticks most of the above but he too is plenty short enough for one who is not a complete natural over fences. Gone To Lunch (8/1 Blue Square) is right up there on form and, although lightly raced for a nine-year-old, there hasn't been a winner older than eight in the last 10 years and you have to go back to 1992 to find one (Minnehoma).

Therefore, it might pay to go for one at a bigger price and Casey Jones (16/1 Ladbrokes) looks to have the best profile. He has one poor run over fences to his name two starts ago, but either side of that he's beaten Golden Silver and Trafford Lad (a Grade 1 chase at Leopardstown), so his form is pretty useful and he's pretty versatile as regards the ground. A strong stayer and superb jumper, you can just see him creeping round the back before using his staying power in the closing stages.