Emma Lavelle’s Fox Appeal bids to stun Clarence House rivals

Fox Appeal’s entry for the upcoming Clarence House Chase at Ascot adds another fascinating sub-plot to the latest running with Ladbrokes offering odds of 8/1 on the seven-year-old’s chances of landing a surprise victory.

The Emma Lavelle-trained charge scored at the Berkshire track on his last outing and now looks set to step down in trip to face the cream of the two-mile chasing division.

Tingle Creek winner Sire De Grugy is currently the 6/4 favourite in the absence of last year’s victor and chase superstar, Sprinter Sacre, with Nicky Henderson also opting not to run Captain Conan.

That double blow for the champion trainer appears to have left father-son duo Gary and Jamie Moore with a strong hand in Sire De Grugy.

However, his hat-trick bid could be thwarted with a number of his potential rivals enjoying the caveat of previous success over the jumps at Ascot

Fox Appeal might be rated 17lbs below the market leader. But as one of the most recent in the field to emerge victorious at the track following last month’s Grade Two victory on soft ground he’s one of the bigger priced entrants to watch out for.

Meanwhile, 2012 Clarence House winner Somersby and Evan Williams’ Lancetto have both enjoyed success over course and distance in the past.

And at 4/1 the former of that pair is sure to attract attention despite finishing runner-up to the jolly at Sandown in the Tingle Creek.

At a track that’s suited him in the past the second favourite is well worth taking on especially given victory in this renewal two years ago was no mean feat against subsequent Champion Chase hero Finian’s Rainbow.

More recently, the ten-year-old’s successful seasonal reappearance, winning the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter while holding Cue Card back in third, was a solid reaffirmation of his class following some poor results.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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