4 Horses to follow at Kempton
12:55 2m 4 1/2f Coral "Daily Rewards Shaker" Handicap Chase (Class 3)
Peso
looks a strong contender in this competitive handicap chase and shapes as the type to take a significant step forward with his first run over fences now behind him. A lightly raced and unexposed six-year-old, he has long hinted at ability and his profile suggests there is plenty more to come as he gains experience.
Before switching to chasing, Peso showed fairly useful form over hurdles, including a comfortable success in a 2m novice hurdle at Newbury on good to soft ground last season. That performance marked him out as a horse with ability, while subsequent efforts confirmed he was capable of holding his own in decent company. Importantly, his hurdle form suggests he is well treated by the handicapper, and his current chase mark still leaves him looking potentially ahead of the assessor.
After an 11-month absence, Peso made a very encouraging return on his chase debut at Newbury last month. Given a considerate ride after such a long lay-off, he was never asked to go through with his effort but stayed on steadily to finish a respectable fourth, beaten around 10 lengths. That run ticked several important boxes, he jumped soundly on the whole, handled the 2m4f trip well, and crucially should strip much fitter this time. It was the sort of run that often precedes a marked improvement next time out.
A similar trip here looks ideal, as Peso has already proven effective between 2m and 2½m, and he should continue to progress as he learns his trade over fences. With only four runs under rules, he remains very unexposed, especially in this discipline.
Further encouragement comes from the form of the yard, which is operating at a healthy 24% strike rate over the last 14 days. With fitness, experience and a workable mark all in his favour, Peso looks primed to build on his promising chase debut and has leading claims of landing this handicap.
Horse to follow: Peso
Odds: 4/1 with BetMGM
2:05 3m Coral "New" Horse Racing Bet Builder Handicap Chase (Class 2)
The Doyen Chief
looks well placed to strike in this contest, with conditions swinging firmly back in his favour after a creditable effort in deeper company last time. A proven course-and-distance winner, Alan King’s charge has already shown that this track plays to his strengths, and a return here could unlock a much-improved performance.
Last time out, The Doyen Chief was pitched into a much stronger handicap at Cheltenham over an extended 3m2f, where he travelled well for a long way before his stamina began to ebb away late on up the hill. That effort can be marked up, as Cheltenham is a far more demanding test than today’s venue, and the extra distance stretched him beyond his optimum. Dropping back to 3m at a less stiff track looks a significant positive and should allow him to travel strongly throughout without being vulnerable late on.
Importantly, The Doyen Chief had previously looked progressive over 3m on good ground and was a decisive C&D winner last season, form that reads very well in the context of this race. His reappearance effort, when finishing runner-up, has also been emphatically franked since, lending further substance to his claims. While he can sometimes raise questions regarding enthusiasm, he is often at his most effective when produced late, a tactic that should suit again here.
Compared to his main rivals, he appears to have fewer doubts at the trip. Soul Icon is consistent and well treated on his best form but remains something of a frustrating type whose stamina can be a concern, while Welcome To Cartries, though talented and improving, has had his issues and arrives with a slightly less solid profile at this level.
With proven course form, a favourable drop in class, and conditions far more suitable than his latest assignment, The Doyen Chief looks primed to bounce back. If he can reproduce his strong-travelling style over his optimal trip, he has every chance of asserting late and landing this race.
Horse to follow: The Doyen Chief
Odds: 15/8 wit BetMGM
3:17 2m5f (Winter) Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
The Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle is once again the standout betting heat on the card, and while the market principals both bring obvious appeal, it is
A Pai De Nom
who makes the most compelling case as the likely winner. Dan Skelton’s progressive hurdler continues to improve with racing and looks primed to peak in a race that has clearly been a long-term target.
A Pai De Nom has rapidly developed an excellent profile since switching to hurdles, winning three of his four starts in the discipline. His standout performance came when landing a competitive big-field handicap at Cheltenham over 2m5f on soft ground, showing not only toughness but also the ability to travel strongly and find more off the bridle at a demanding track. That form alone marks him out as a serious contender in a race of this nature.
He followed up that Cheltenham success by winning again at Leicester last month over an inadequate 2m, cosily seeing off his rivals and shaping as though the shorter trip was far from ideal. The way he finished that race strongly suggests this return to a longer distance is a major positive, especially given he has already proven himself over further at a stiffer venue.
Importantly, he remains unexposed, and the handicapper may not yet have caught up with his rate of progression.The Skelton team have an outstanding recent record in this race, having landed the last two renewals, and they are well known for targeting valuable Saturday handicaps with precision. Harry Skelton’s bullish comments only add to the confidence, highlighting that the trip, ground and weight have all been carefully considered.
While Lanesborough looks a major danger after a dominant Doncaster success, he must now prove himself from a 14lb higher mark in a tougher race. In contrast, A Pai De Nom appears to be improving at the right time, still has upside, and ticks every key box. With conditions set to suit and a strong pace likely to play to his strengths, he looks a leading contender to land this valuable prize.
Horse to follow: A Pai De Nom
Odds: 9/2 with BetMGM
3:53 2m (Winter) Coral "Pipped-At-The-Post" Payouts Handicap Hurdle (Class 43)
We’re Red And Blue
looks a strong contender to land the finale at Kempton and is the one to side with following a timely return to form last time out. The six-year-old, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, showed his true colours at Huntingdon last month when winning a well-contested handicap hurdle in convincing style, suggesting he is firmly back on track after a below-par spell earlier in the season.
That dip in form can be largely forgiven, as the O’Neill yard was notably quiet at the time. With the stable now back firing, We’re Red And Blue’s latest success takes on added significance. Benefitting from his reappearance run, he was given a positive, front-foot ride at Huntingdon and responded well, travelling strongly throughout before asserting late to score by two lengths in a race that looked deeper than the bare result suggests.
A free-going type, he had already hinted at his ability last season when winning a maiden/novice hurdle, and his novice form suggests there is still room for progression now in his second season over timber. His reappearance at Aintree can be marked up, as he was unable to show his hurdling ability after omitting hurdles, but that outing clearly blew away the cobwebs and set him up perfectly for his Huntingdon success.
The handicapper has reacted with a 6lb rise, but that looks fair rather than punitive, especially given how comfortably he won and the manner in which he travelled through the race. He remains effective at around 2m, handles both soft and good ground, and Kempton’s sharper track should suit his prominent racing style.
With confidence restored, fitness assured and conditions very much in his favour, We’re Red And Blue looks capable of backing up his Huntingdon success. If building again on that performance, he has every chance of ending the card on a winning note.
Horse to follow: We're Red And Blue
Odds: 4/1 with BetMGM
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