OPINIONS vary on the value of all-weather bumper cards close to Cheltenham but Nicky Henderson is not alone in regarding Kempton as an ideal venue to work horses leading up to the festival.

Of course, the bumpers still have to be won but leading NH trainers were out in force on Monday and there were winners for Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Harry Fry and Alan King

Fry led the way with a double, courtesy of Sir Ivan and Onefortheroadtom, the latter winning in style from Diamond Guy in the colours of J P McManus.

However, the most significant winner may have been Seamus Mullins’ 5/1 chance Chesterfield, who proved two lengths too good for Nicholls’ hot favourite Zubayr in one of the 32Red sponsored races over two miles.

INTERESTING PAST

Chesterfield has a very interesting past. He won two races on the flat for Godolphin but spent two years away from the track before lining up for Mullins, having left John Ferguson.

Soon finding his feet, he won at Aintree last spring and went on to win the Scottish Champion Hurdle, a handicap of course, from – remarkably – Zubayr.

More recently, he has form against Remiluc, a quirky but talented character who finished fifth in the red-hot Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. Consequently, Chesterfield has attracted interest, to small money, for the County Hurdle on the final day of the festival.

There was still some 33/1 available early this week.