The Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap Chase offers a decent £26k pot for a Friday, with plenty in with a chance.

15:15 (Doncaster) Rouge Vif

However, I have always had Rouge Vif in mind for decent 2-mile handicap chases, ever since he left Paul Nicholls' yard.

I remember him absolutely bolting up in a competitive two-mile Cheltenham handicap in 2020 to win by seven lengths off 156, and I'm convinced he will repeat the feat at some stage.
This nine-year-old is far from over the hill yet and is clearly classy, having finished third in an Arkle and campaigned in Grade One company.

He is very ground dependent and needs good going, so Friday's conditions should be ideal.

New owners paid £40k as Rouge Vif returned to his previous trainer, Harry Whittington, who had a terrible year last season, but his horses have started to perform better.

Rouge Vif has run twice this season, both over hurdles, and has looked out of sorts, but he ran without his usual tongue tie, and these two outings look like pipe openers.

Connections have reverted Rouge Vif to his preferred chases, and have reapplied the tongue tie just at a time he gets his preferred decent ground.

The gelding is running off a lovely mark of 140, and must surely be in with a shout if he can return to form.
The 20/1 that is readily available at the time of writing looks massive for his chances, and he retains that value down to 14/1 .