*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Frank Hickey has cast his eye over a packed card at Kempton on Saturday, picking out six top tips that will hopefully help punters pocket some profit.
Speaking on the latest episode of Paddy Power’s From The Horse’s Mouth podcast, our expert tipster has his fingers crossed the weather holds and racing can go ahead on a weekend set to be blighted by the winter conditions.
(Kempton is set to undergo an inspection at 8am on Saturday morning)
1.10pm – Erick Le Rouge
ERICK LE ROUGE won this race last year and he’s only 3lbs higher. He’s had four starts at Kempton, and won three of them – twice over hurdles off marks of 129 and 134, and last year winning this race off 134. His only defeat was in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase. He’s had a wind op since and he obviously really likes Kempton. His price isn’t as appealing as you might hope it was going to be, but he should still run a decent race.
1.45pm – Rocco
I was half interested in Slate House on the back of a wind op but the Colin Tizzard yard is out of form again. Instead I’m going to go with ROCCO for Nigel Twiston-Davies, who likes to race prominently. He was second last time out to Lock’s Corner, who was well-treated off a mark of 131. He got 1lb for that and he has only had one win over fences – October 2019 at Stratford off a mark of 128 – but it’s not the worst thing to be up with the pace here, and he will be up there. He should stay on, as if you go back to his novice hurdle career he was third in the Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham behind Rockpoint and Lisnagar Oscar. He hasn’t convinced in a couple of runs over 3m as a chaser but hopefully this track will suit him.
2.20pm – McFabulous
MCFABULOUS is the improver in the field and though he was beaten last time in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, it was still a cracking effort to finish third behind Thyme Hill and Paisley Park as they set the standard in the staying hurdling division. McFabulous travelled as well as anything that day but his stamina for 3m is definitely questionable and the drop to this trip is ideal.
He bolted up over this same course and distance in a handicap off 132 last March, so we know this track will play to his strengths. He wouldn’t want the ground to be too testing but he should get away with it if it rides like the going description of soft, good to soft suggests.
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2.55pm – Riders Onthe Storm
Maybe I’m completely wrong, but I don’t think Imperial Aura should be favourite for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next March. He was very impressive in winning the novices’ handicap but you can definitely pick holes in his form this year. I’m not convinced by him at all and RIDERS ONTHE STORM was very impressive on his first two starts for Nigel Twiston-Davies last year. He bolted up at Aintree and Ascot, and while people could say he was fortunate to win the Grade 1 Ascot Chase when Traffic Fluide fell, that horse was only in the race because Riders OnThe Storm and Cyrname when hammer-and-tongs five fences out. Riders Onthe Storm had Cyrname beaten and was just then vulnerable coming to the last.
At the prices, it is definitely worth taking the chance and I will forgive him his run at Cheltenham – they dropped back in trip as an experiment because he travels so well, but it he just didn’t have the pace for two miles and his jumping fell to pieces. Back up to 2m 4f around Kempton, he’s definitely a bit of value to turn over Imperial Aura.
3.30pm – Glynn (6 places)
Nicky Henderson has won this three times in the last eight years and he might be able to add to that impressive strike rate with GLYNN. Very lightly raced, he was extremely impressive when winning his maiden hurdle at Doncaster at this time last year. That form looks very solid with the second now rated 123, the fifth is rated 127 and the seventh is rated 135. Glynn beat all these 11 lengths plus, so his mark of 134 has to be workable.
He did disappoint a little when third past the post at Doncaster last month on his handicap debut (was promoted to second) but he was a little weak in the market on the show that day, suggesting the run might well have been needed. If that is the case, he could step forward plenty here and that makes him a big player with Paddy offering 6 places.
3.57pm – Millers Bank
At first glance, MILLERS BANK‘s two runs this season would appear disappointing but they were in the Welsh Champion hurdle and the Gerry Fielden which are really competitive handicaps and this is a far softer race for her. The handicapper has has dropped 7lbs for those two runs and that would appear quite generous.
She won her last two runs of last season in novice company, including easily beating Multellie (who is rated 124) and Marlborough Sounds (rated 132). That would suggest that a mark a mark of 133 is workable if she bounces back to form and the drop in grade could be the key.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Frank Hickey’s Kempton bet summary – Saturday, January 9
1.10pm – Erick Le Rouge
1.45pm – Rocco
2.20pm – McFabulous
2.55pm – Riders Onthe Storm
3.30pm – Glynn (6 places)
3.57pm – Millers Bank
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