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1.15 - Close Brothers Asset Finance Handicap Hurdle (2m5f)
A decent handicap to launch a strong afternoon's racing at Kempton and one where it's worth keeping a close market check on Encore Champs as he begins life with trainer Dan Skelton.
He had some useful form last season as a chaser with Warren Greatrex, including over this far, and should relish the conditions on this stable bow. He has done well fresh in the past and appears to be on a workable mark following wind surgery and 350 days out. He could outrun the forecast double-figure price he's set to go off at.
Both Major Dundee and Diocletian are making their first forays into handicaps and look like the types to do better in the near future, while Ecco was second here on Boxing Day over C&D and has won a jumpers' bumper on the Polytrack here since for Paul Nicholls.
Bottom-weight TOP MAN makes some appeal at decent odds. Chris Gordon's charge has run well over C&D in three previous visits to Kempton, including when fourth here on Boxing Day (Ecco second) in a race where he set the pace and was attempting to rebuild confidence after a pair of falls over fences.
He would most likely benefit from getting a lead into the contest this afternoon and, from this mark and with only six hurdles starts behind him, it's far from certain we've seen the best of him yet.
1.50 - Close Brothers Pendil Novices' Chase (Grade 2, 2m4½f)
Just the four runners for the Pendil Novices' Chase and each has something going for them. Outsider in the betting is Son Of Camas for Nicky Henderson. He has less experience than his three rivals but essentially did quite well on his first start over fences when third over C&D on Boxing Day. He was known to throw in the towel a bit over hurdles, but that was a very strong handicap he appeared in at Christmas and, with improvement to come, it wouldn't be beyond him to have a say.
Coole Cody had something to spare in landing the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November, though Evan Williams' charge struggled back there the following month and may find this challenging against three young rivals with scope for improvement.
The market suggests this is something of a duel between Tamaroc Du Mathan and GA LAW.
The former was runner-up behind Shiskin over two miles here at Christmas having won a shade cosily at Wincanton on his chasing bow in November. His hurdles run over 2m5f here last spring does pose a stamina query, especially if Ga Law sets off at pace in front.
That was certainly the calling card for Jamie Snowden's charge as he won at Fontwell, Exeter and Wincanton earlier in the season. He, too, ran into a leading Arkle contender on his most recent start, dropping in trip for a Sandown Grade 1 in December won by Allmankind.
The presence of Dan Skelton's runner meant he could not dominate from the front there, but this upwardly mobile five-year-old may get back on track with a dominant performance out in front and he's fancied to concede 3lb successfully to Tamaroc Du Mathan en route to his second Grade 2 score of the season over this sort of distance.
2.25 - Close Brothers Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m)
Trainer Alan King has won a pair of Triumph Hurdles with Penzance and Katchit in the past and the Barbury Castle handler will be hoping that TRITONIC can stamp his ticket to Cheltenham in three weeks' time by snaring a Grade 2 victory here. King has taken two of the previous four renewals of this Kempton contest and would equal the record tally of five Adonis Hurdle wins with victory now.
Narrowly denied a 1m2f Royal Ascot success last summer off a mark of 95, Tritonic was very useful on the Flat despite failing to score in five starts last term.
He was well backed for last month's Ascot hurdling bow, going off the 5-4fav, and there was lots to like about the manner in which he ran down the re-opposing Casa Loupi in that race, having had plenty to do jumping the final obstacle. The pair were miles clear of everything else and Adrian Heskin's mount is the one they all must fear now.
That meanwhile was a very positive start over hurdles too from Gary Moore's charge and the market is perhaps underestimating his chance of finding the frame again.
Honneur D'ajonc's second to Monmiral at Exeter in November reads well now and Jane Williams' charge looked set to collect over C&D at Christmas only to come down at the last. He remains with potential for better if avoiding accidents.
Margaret's Legacy has won both starts in France over timber and is an interesting proposition on first UK start, while the same is very much true of Paso Doble for Paul Nicholls.
The Dawn Approach gelding was quite smart on the level in Ireland for Jim Bolger and was sold for ?125,000 earlier in the campaign. His new trainer holds the joint-record tally of five wins in this race - all of them since 2009 and including so impressively with Solo last year - and it's likely he's been showing plenty at home to get the nod to represent Team Ditcheat in this event.
3.00 - Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m)
Atholl Street sets the standard for the Nicholls/Cobden alliance here after scoring maiden/novice hurdles wins at Taunton pre-Christmas in decisive fashion. He's going up in class today but looks to have a bright future in the Trevor Hemmings silks and a positive showing is expected. He has been allowed to dictate things in both wins thus far however, and his rivals may ensure he doesn't get such an easy time in the lead now, seeking to expose any possible chinks.
Calcio made an impressive start for Dan Skelton in last month's hurdles/stable bow at Ludlow on heavy ground. He had lots in hand and is well worth his place in this line-up in a bid to build on that opening gambit.
Son Of Red ran into the smart Adagio when third at Cheltenham in December and has scope for better things, while the likes of Lunar Sovereign and Pyramid Place have been winning in lesser company and must eke out plenty more now.
The really interesting one is Irish raider CAPE GENTLEMAN for trainer Emmet Mullins. He created a fine impression in winning his Punchestown maiden (2m4f, heavy) in December and was fancied to give Gaillard Du Mesnil plenty to think about earlier this month at the Dublin Racing Festival.
He got a nightmare trip in that Grade 1 and was pulled up eventually but there could be a major rebound in him now. The French Flat winner scored in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh (2m, soft) back in the autumn and should be just fine over this trip for the first time a hurdler. It's likely he can cover his expenses for the visit to Kempton under Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
3.35 - Close Brothers Handicap Chase (Grade 3, 3m)
Mister Malarky held off Black Corton to win this contest a year ago and it wouldn't be a big shock to find them going well again. Things haven't gone to plan for Bryony Frost's mount since a pleasing seasonal bow at Ascot in October but a return here might provoke a revival.
Veterans Aso and Double Shuffle come here off the back of really pleasing efforts last-time-out and will have claims with repeat showings now, but the temptation remains to side with some of the younger generation.
Al Dancer ran a cracker when third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November, before disappointing back there in December. Nigel Twiston-Davies has freshened him up since and he's very interesting upped to three miles for the first time on a track that should assist him tackling the new trip.
Cap Du Nord, Slate House and Southfield Stone are all possible contenders in a tough race but maybe THE BUTCHER SAID can cause something of an upset for Olly Murphy.
He won novice events at Southwell and Bangor over this distance in the autumn on good ground and shaped quite well for a good part of the journey at Doncaster (3m, soft) last month in the Listed Sky Bet Chase. He didn't seem to go through with his effort before fading and it's noted he's had a wind operation since that run four weeks ago. Eased 2lb by the handicapper, he ran well on his only hurdles start here and definitely has scope to get involved from his current perch.
4.10 - Close Brothers Motor Finance Handicap Chase (2m4½f)
Ouro Branco is 3-5 over fences and ran into an inspired Fegan at Newbury last month when finishing second in his attempt to defy a 10lb rise in the weights. That was essentially another positive showing and, up an extra 2lb, he must be on any shortlist for this competitive handicap.
My Way and Guy represent top yards and are not overlooked in fierce haste, though both probably need to improve to win.
MONSIEUR D'ARQUE had a trio of runner-up finishes at Warwick, Newton Abbot and Ludlow when last spotted in the autumn. He didn't to a lot wrong and he had previously scored at Market Rasen (2m1f, good) on the back of a short layoff. Dan Skelton's charge has undergone a wind op during this latest mid-winter break and, with the trainer enjoying such a productive time of it recently, he's likely to have his hat in the ring when it counts under Harry Skelton.
4.45 - Close Brothers Premium Finance Standard Open NH Flat Race (2m)
Commander Rocks won a junior bumper at Huntingdon in November and has changed hands since and, while he faces a tougher challenge now, the War Command gelding is a possible player.
The others to have run under rules aren't particularly inspiring, though Guardino can probably improve for Ben Pauling and Nico de Boinville.
Tamgho Borget just held off UNANSWERED PRAYERS to win a point-to-point at Ballycrystal back in the autumn and both have scope to get involved on their rules bows. The former is now with Paul Nicholls and likely features prominently in the market as such.
Chris Gordon's charge doesn't have a lot to find on that form between the flags, a race in which he was patiently ridden and had to make up ground. His new trainer has been doing well in bumpers since the turn of the year and Joshua Moore's mount could be the value in the market at the forecast prices.
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