KEMPTON FRIDAY

1.25 WILLIAM HILL NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP CHASE (2M4½F)

The pair who make most appeal in this novices’ handicap are Stellar Notion and Knock House. The former ran out a ready winner on his chase bow at Leicester the day after the Hennessy and would have won even without the departure of his nearest rival at the final fence. He is respected, faced with similar conditions here. He jumped well in the main at Leicester and that outing will have aided his development as he is quite a raw sort. It is worth noting that he did go unchallenged in front from flagfall at Leicester and is unlikely to have that luxury here.

That niggling worry tips the balance in favour of Knock House, who was breathtaking when winning at Fakenham in October and found a change of tactics over three miles at Cheltenham all against him on his next start. Dropped back to two and a half miles at a flat track, he can be expected to return to the aggressive tactics which served him well on his debut, and in Tony McCoy has the perfect partner for such a game plan.

Theatrebar had his latest second to Garrahalish franked when that rival was an unlucky loser at Ascot last weekend, and completes the shortlist.

2.00 KAUTO STAR NOVICES’ CHASE (3M)

Saphir Du Rheu impressed most observers when dotting up at Exeter recently and looks sure to be sent off a short-priced favourite here. His task was made easier by the failure of Deputy Dan to run his race, although Horizontal Speed helps to give some solidity to the form, and the winner did it very readily. He does need to prove his stamina for three miles, although the way he stayed on over two miles, five furlongs in last year’s Lanzarote Hurdle suggests he may even improve for the extra distance. There is one small sticking point, however, and that is his failure to complete when meeting Coneygree at Newbury last month. It’s true that the experience was sure to do him good, and he proved that point on Haldon Hill, but all the positives about Saphir Du Rheu are echoed in Coneygree, except that Mark Bradstock’s son of Karinga Bay has already proved that he is equally adept at three miles, and his Newbury rout, where he was foot perfect throughout, also showed that he doesn’t need heavy ground to show his best form. There is little between the pair in terms of either ability or scope, and so Coneygree must be the bet at forecast odds. The Bradstock team is not as strong as some in terms of numbers, but Flintham, a half-brother to the selection, advertised the well-being of the stable when winning a competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

3.10 WILLIAM HILL KING GEORGE VI CHASE (3M)

Silviniaco Conti is bidding for consecutive wins in the race, but while the Betfair Chase winner will be hard to beat if repeating either that Haydock run or his gritty victory in the 2013 renewal of the Christmas showpiece, he’s not the type to frighten off his rivals, and there have been no defectors since the five-day entries were released.

Champagne Fever flies the flag for Willie Mullins, and many take the view that he will come into his own now, belatedly faced with the test of stamina he’s bred to relish. I’m far from convinced that he will stay three miles, however, and much his best performances have come when forcing the pace over two miles at Cheltenham in the spring. He’s also proved vulnerable in midwinter in his previous campaigns and looks much too short on what he’s achieved over fences.

Al Ferof is another who has stamina to prove, and I feel his trainer would rather see him campaigned at shorter distances, despite owner John Hales’ continued ambition to land the Gold Cup. Menorah has had similar accusations aimed at him, but in winning the Charlie Hall and chasing home Silviniaco Conti in the Betfair Chase, he’s pretty much proved that the Kempton test is within his compass, and ignoring a poor run in the race last year when making his seasonal return, he has an unblemished record at the Sunbury venue. Jumping has proved his Achilles heel in the past but he was solid in that regard at both Wetherby and Haydock. He’s without the services of Richard Johnson but looks certain to run well now he’s rediscovered his consistency.

Cue Card has yet to prove himself as good as he was since his injury, but at least one good paddock judge reckoned him still short of fitness in that Haydock contest and I’ll be having a saver on him.

CHEPSTOW SATURDAY

2.35 CORAL WELSH NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE (3M5½F)

I’ve long been keen on Midnight Prayer for this race and the National Hunt Chase winner remains an underappreciated performer. Whether the Hennessy Gold Cup is the ideal prep for this has been called into question by a few experts, but Alan King’s charge wasn’t persevered with once he was held at Newbury, and shaped considerably better than a last-place finish suggests. He certainly needed that run, and should be at concert pitch for the Chepstow marathon, which looks shorter on quality than is often the case, despite the large field.

The ante-post bets are already on with him, and rather than look to lay off, I’m inclined to add another string to my bow in the shape of Benbens, who is overpriced at a general 20/1 at the time of writing. Lightly raced for one his age, he has all the attributes needed in a regional national winner, and would also be on my shortlist for Aintree itself. He unseated his rider in the Becher Chase earlier in the month, but was in the process of moving smoothly into contention at the time, and had largely coped well with the demands of the National course until that point. He certainly looks on a workable mark, appeals as capable of further progress, and is bred to appreciate the extra yardage. Back him for Chepstow, for sure, but don’t forget to have a few shekels on for April while you’re about it.