RSA Chase 2014

Cheltenham is the biggest week to anyone who deems themselves a jumps lover, many will call go to Cheltenham with a "sure thing" that they would have heard from a "friend of a friend Tony McCoy" but rarely do they come in.

I figure the only way to attack this brilliant festival is to go through all the stats available and find a horse who jumps out at you on history,trends and one that nearly looks too good to be true and Morning Assembly in the RSA chase jumps off the page at me.

He was so unlucky last time at Christmas when being chinned by Carlingford Lough - jumping so well but just dwindling near the finish. Ruby Walsh when asked about this likable 7 year old said he "loves him" and that he should improve ten fold mentally for the occasion and develop more of a winning mentality.

Ruby more than likely won't be on the horse come Cheltenham with favourite Ballycasey also running (contractually obliged to saddle a Willie Mullins runner). How Ballycasey is favourite is beyond me, slim form on show, typical bookies running scared when they see WP Mullins on the racecard. Ruby or no Ruby it should not hinder Morning Assembly chances with two suitors waiting by eagerly in the shape of Davy Russell and Davy Condon both of whom have won on this horse in the past.

Back to the stats: 10/10 of the last 10 winners of this great race ran 3 times at least over fences, also all 10 did not run on the flat, 9 of the last 10 finished 1st or 2nd on the previous run and 8 of the last 10 were aged 7. Morning Assembly ticks every box here.

The only issues on the stats is that 10/10 of last 10 winners ran between 24 and 53 days before the race - however Morning Assembly is better fresh and has been saved somewhat for the RSA. Pat Fahy stated "It was always the plan to go straight from Christmas to Cheltenham as we don't want to over-race him."

Away from boring old stats he jumps like a stag, his form is rock solid bar one blip at Christmas where he was beaten  by a horse who simply had a good deal more experience and I would be very shocked if that rival is anywhere near him come Cheltenham.

Only time will tell how good he will be on the day - as so many things can go wrong for a racehorse but all I know is that I am already swaying towards napping him already!