The Grade 3 Racing Post Chase is the big betting race of the weekend which takes place at Kempton Park on Saturday afternoon and is supported by three cracking Grade 2 races that are all trials for the forthcoming Cheltenham Festival. Here’s a look at the feature races and hopefully a few pointers in the direction of finding a couple of winners…
1.55 Kempton Park – Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
Plenty of talented juveniles have been entered for this opener with the Triumph Hurdle being the target for at least some of those on show. Nicky Henderson won this race last year with Soldatino which of course went on to take the ‘Triumph’ at the Festival and the brilliant trainer might well try something similar this year with Celtus, who will be having his first run in this country since arriving from France.
Henderson is clearly impressed by this horse which is likely to start as the favourite but he will also be represented by Molotof, another Juvenile to have arrived at Seven Barrows from France.
Tim Vaughan who is rapidly making a big name for himself in the National Hunt has a very smart pair of runners in the unbeaten First Fandango and Architrave who won his first three starts in great style but appeared to be out of his depth when well beaten last time in the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham back in November in a race won by Sam Winner.
Please note that both of these runners as well as several others have also got entries for the Dovecote Novices Hurdle later in the afternoon.
Selection: Celtus
2.25 Kempton Park – Pendil Novice Chase (Grade2)
Most eyes will be on the performance of the Phillip Hobbs, Captain Chris, who is 14/1 with paddy power the Arkle at Cheltenham and looks to have the right credentials to win this Grade 2. The seven year old has finished second in each of his four races so far this season, but showed on his last run that he has plenty left at the end and if amongst them at the last then he will be hard to beat. He also looks a very promising bet for the Arkle trophy Chase which takes place on the first day at the forthcoming Cheltenham Festival.
He will be up against, amongst others the talented five year old, Royal Charm who will be stepping up in class after two very encouraging wins over fences this season.
Selection: Captain Chris
3.00 Kempton Park – Racing Post Chase (Grade 3)
This looks a very difficult race to call with any number in with chances. Fistral Beach from the Paul Nicholls yard will likely go off as the favourite but there are plenty of doubts about his jumping ability so he is best left alone on this occasion.
Alan King has been quite bullish about the chances of his Bakbenscher and there is plenty of support around for the Phillip Hobbs trained Quinz who is one of two entries for this race from Hobbs who has saddled three winners of this renewal in the last few years.
Last year’s winner Razor Royale will be looking for back to back wins, but will need to show better form than he has so far this season. The 9 year old is one of the entries from the yard of Nigel Twiston-Davies, the other being recent Wetherby winner, Crescent Island who will be having only his second race after a lay-off of almost two years. It is interesting to note that Paddy Brennan, the Twiston-Davies stable jockey has elected to ride last year’s runner up and 2009 winner, Nacarat who will carry top weight.
Selection: Bakbenscher @ 9/1 with Victor Chandler
Share this article with friends:Written by Rodwise · Filed Under Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing, Paddypower, Tips, VCBet
Tagged: 26th february, bakbenscher, best bet, bets, betting, captain chris, celtus, kempton, races, racing post chase, Tips
