Racing Plus Chase at Kempton

the Racing Plus (previously Post) Chase, a Grade 3 handicap chase over 3 miles at 16.05 CET, is the big race of the day in the U.K., athough to be honest the field is not that great for the prize-money. Planet of Sound (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) has top weight and is likely to start favourite, and his trainer and jockey have a great record here. However the stable is in muddling form at the moment, and we definitely prefer Nacarat (Tom George/ Paddy Brennan), who won this race in 2009 and has been twice placed since. Deep Purple (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney), a good stayer, is another one we expect to run well and it looks a very open event, with even 13yo bottom-weight Mount Oscar (Colin and Joe Tizzard) in with a chance.

The card opens with the Grade Two Adonis Hurdle for 4yo´s at 15.00, which should provide some useful Triumph Hurdle clues. Dildar (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), Sadlers Risk (Hobbs/ Johnson) and Une Artiste (Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty) have all won their only British hurdles start and one of them will probably win here. However Alan King prefers to run his Triumph prospect Grumeti (Robert Thornton) against older horses in the Grade Two novice hurdle at 16.40. He has to win to keep his Cheltenham hopes alive, but faces tough opposition including Keys (Henderson/ Geraghty), a smart bumper who has also done well on the flat, and two interesting debutants Terre du Vent (George/ Brennan) and Dodging Bullets (Nicholls/ Walsh).

The powerful Henderson and Nicholls stables are in opposition again in the Grade Two novice chase at 17.10, but here we prefer Zaynar (Nick Williams/ Tom Scudamore), and the jockey can follow up with David Pipe´s Ashbrittle in the handicap hurdle at 17.45. He is up in trip here, but stayed well on the flat and is out of a German mare.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Sadler`S Risk - Dildar - Une Artiste
2. Race: Hunt Ball - Not So Sure Dick - Arrayan
3. Race: Planet Of Sound - Nacarat - Michel Le Bon
4. Race: Grumeti - Keys - Dodging Bullets
5. Race: Cristal Bonus - Zaynar - Minella Class
6. Race: Ashbrittle - Semi Colon - Like A Hurricane
7. Race: Virginia Ash - Off The Wall - Starving Marvin