Huntingdon racecourse will have one eye on the weather this weekend – especially with Storm Darragh doing the rounds – as the Cambridgeshire venue looks forward to its biggest race day on the calendar and the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase.
With over £45k on offer to the winner the 2024 Peterborough Chase has attracted some familiar names – most notably last season’s Ryanair Chase winner Protektorat, who will be looking to add this Huntingdon race to that Cheltenham Festival win.
Protektorat Bidding To Give Trainer Dan Skelton A Second Peterborough Chase Win
Protektorat will face just four other Peterborough Chase runners but being the clear top-rated in the field (166) it’s no shock to see this Dan Skelton runner favourite with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
He was last seen running a fair race in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (6th), when having to shoulder a big weight of 12s (watch below).
That was also his first run of the jumps horse racing season so can be expected to come on for it and despite having to give a small bit of weight away to Djelo, Nickle Back and Ginny’s Destiny is still the horse to beat on these terms.
He’s rated 166 and even giving 6lbs to the 154-rated Ginny’s Destiny means Protektorat is still 6lbs well-in. He’s certainly the class act in the field not back into graded company.
If Protektorat can win the Peterborough Chase on Sunday – he’ll give trainer Dan Skelton a second win in the race, having won the pot in 2015 with Al Ferof.
While this will also be his first run here at Huntingdon.
2024 Peterborough Chase Race Details
📅Date: Sunday 8th December 2024
⌚Time: 1:50pm
🏇Racecourse: Huntingdon
🔄Trip: 2m4f
💷Winning Purse: £45,560
📺 TV: ITV4 / Racing TV
Paul Nicholls Pins His Peterborough Chase Hopes On Ginny’s Destiny
Trainer Paul Nicholls won the Peterborough Chase in 2004 with Le Roi Miguel and had to wait till 2022 to get his second with Pic D’Orhy won under jockey Harry Cobden.
With the meeting called off due to a waterlogged track – he remains the last winner of the Huntingdon Grade 2.
Nicholls will be trying for a third win in the race – this time with Ginny’s Destiny, who needs to bounce back from being pulled-up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month.
Ginny’s Destiny was also sent off as the 3/1 favourite with the best betting sites in the UK that day, so wasn’t unfancied, but is now also on a run of three races with no win.
On a plus, the 8 year-old gets weight all round from the other four Peterborough Chase runners.
However, his only run at the track (hurdles) saw him finish a well-beaten fourth (of 5) when trained by Tom Lacey back in February 2023.
In Form Venetia Williams Eyes First Ever Peterborough Chase
Not many trainers are in better form at the moment than Venetia Williams – she’s operating around a 38% strike-rate at the time of writing and will be looking to improve that with the 6 year-old Djelo.
This horse was last seen running a close second to JPR One in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last time out and with that coming off a 209-day break will strip fitter for it (watch below).
He was also a fine third in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and with age on his side looks the sort to have a lot more improvement to come.
That said, in a race like this – taking on a 166-rated horse and only getting 3lbs, this 149-rated chaser will need to take a leap forward. Something he’s certainly capable of, however.
He’ll be looking to give trainer Venetia Williams her first Peterborough Chase win.
Peterborough Chase Runners 2024
- Minella Drama
- Protektorat
- Djelo
- Nickle Back
- Ginny’s Destiny
