With the next of the Jumps Series of Betting Tournaments almost upon us, I've taken a look at the feature races on Saturday, including the Tote Fantasy Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse. You can join me in the Betting Tournament by opt-ing in here.
13:50 Kempton – Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
The Milton Harris-trained SCRIPTWRITER was installed as the 9-4 favourite when the declarations were revealed on Monday and he’ll appreciate the better ground after his narrow defeat by Comfort Zone at Cheltenham on Trials Day. That took his record over hurdles to 1112 (3-4) and his Flat form suggests the switch to a right-handed track is unlikely to inconvenience. His trainer won this last year with Knight Salute.
Paul Nicholls has won this three times in the past ten years and RARE MIDDLETON was backed from 6-1 into 9-2 when the antepost prices were first issued. He comfortably landed odds of 2-5 at Taunton on his jumps debut though has yet to race on good ground.
NUSRET is also entered in the opener at Fairyhouse but trainer Joseph O’Brien has plundered two Graded juvenile hurdles with Comfort Zone this season and will know where he stands with the home contingent. This Golden Horn colt won well on his jumps debut on yielding ground at Punchestown in November before modest thirds to leading Triumph Hurdle hopes Lossiemouth and Blood Destiny on unsuitably soft going. He’ll be very interesting if running here.
PERSEUS WAY was only two lengths Behind Comfort Zone when third in the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow before landing the Chatteris Fen at Huntingdon. Good ground suits and he’s high on the shortlist.
THE CHURCHILL LAD tends to race with the choke out but could go well if allowed to dominate. He was a 66-1 fourth in the Finale and wasn’t beaten far in Listed company at Musselburgh earlier this month.
14:25 Kempton – Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
Paul Nicholls is six from 11 in this race in the past ten years and backing all his runners blind in that period would have returned a profit of £9.25 to a £1 level stake at SP. His front-running CAP DU MATHAN is on a hat-trick after wins at right-handed Exeter and Taunton but is taking a big step up in class.
Paul Nicholls could also saddle SOLO, winner of the Adonis on this card in 2020. The seven-year-old has finished second in four of his seven chase starts and could be one for the Placepot or Exacta perms.
At the time of writing, Harry Fry’s BOOTHILL was trading as the 7-4 favourite though he was beaten when odds-on at Doncaster last time and is not certain to appreciate the step up from two miles.
15:00 Kempton – Coral Trophy Handicap Chase (Class 1)
ANNSAM was trading as the 9-2 favourite in the early betting after bolting up by 17 lengths over course and distance last time. That soft-ground success took his record in December/January to 511111 (5-6) for a profit of £27.50 but he’s won just two of his 14 starts record outside of that period and the quicker ground is a concern.
CAP DU NORD beat stablemate KITTY’S LIGHT into second place in this race 12 months ago and returned to winning ways at Ascot last Saturday. He clearly goes well at this time of year and has to be high on the shortlist.
Last year’s runner-up KITTY’S LIGHT is more likely to run in the Eider Chase at Newcastle but would be one for the Placepot if coming here.
COOPER’S CROSS had subsequent winner Cap Du Nord a length back in second place when landing the Sky Bet Handicap Chase at Doncaster last month. He jumped out to his right in the first-time cheekpieces that day and Kempton should suit, as will the prevailing good ground.
KILLER CLOWN was put in at 25-1 when the antepost betting opened but is unbeaten in two starts at Kempton. He needs to prove his stamina for this three-mile trip but has been freshened up since disappointing at Newbury in late November and his record on his first run after New Year reads 2321 (1-4), with the three defeats by a length and a quarter or less.
15:55 Fairyhouse - Tote Fantasy Bobbyjo Chase (Grade 3)
Key stats/trends
Trainers
Willie Mullins has landed seven of the past ten renewals of this valuable contest, including six of the last seven.
Age
Seven of the past ten winners were aged ten of 11 and backing all 22 qualifiers would have returned a profit of £4.83 to a £1 level stake at SP.
The main contenders
The Willie Mullins-trained KEMBOY finished well held behind stablemate Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup at the DRF (Dublin Racing Festival) and will appreciate the drop to Grade 3 level. He’s gone two years since his last victory but his record in Grade 2 of lower company of 1221F111222 (5-11) suggests he’s an ideal Tote Placepot or Exacta inclusion.
CAREFULLY SELECTED, another Willie Mullins-trained 11-year-old, landed the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park last time, holding on by a short head from Dunboyne. However, he’s yet to win on yielding or faster going under Rules and conditions might be too lively for him.
LONGHOUSE POET won a Punchestown bumper on yielding ground back in May 2019, but his subsequent wins have come on soft/heavy and he could use some rain.
LIFETIME AMBITION often comes good in the spring, with form figures in March/April of 211212 (3-6). We’re only a few days away from his peak period and he could go well.
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