Kempton Friday

12.45 Ladbrokes Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110y

Noble Park is already a much better chaser than he was over hurdles and he’s hard to oppose with the form of his Lingfield win well advertised since. He was very impressive in beating Vanderpoel by 24 lengths at “Leafy” and the runner-up made that form look all the better when winning at Ascot last Friday from a mark of 126, just 2lb lower than at Lingfield.

Noble Park has been given an 11lb rise for the success, but there was no hint that he was flattered by the winning margin, and appears to be much better built for fences and deserves to be so much higher in the weights in this sphere as a result.

Of the others, I’d not be surprised if we saw a much-improved effort from Queensbury Boy despite finishing last of five to complete the course at Cheltenham on his chasing bow.

He was badly hampered by the fall of Jordans Cross that day, and was allowed to come home in his own time. He was beginning to stay on at the time and wouldn’t have been far behind the placed horses then, had he avoided that mishap, so 2lb drop is potentially lenient and his jumping was sound enough to think he can make a decent fist of his new career.

1.20 Ladbrokes Kauto Star

Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 3m

It’s not that easy to weigh up Kitzbuhel here as it was his demeanour as much as the trip that saw him disappoint in the Liverpool Hurdle when tried at three miles in the spring and he has every chance of staying as he matures. That said, his temperament dd look to get the better of him at Aintree and I’d want to see him relaxed and settled before backing him on his travels.

A safer conveyance here is Wendigo who ran more than respectably in the Albert Bartlett last season and who has made a fine start to his chasing career, finishing second in a race at Worcester that threw up four next-time-out winners before winning himself in Grade 2 company at Newbury where he outstayed his rivals over two and a half miles.

Runner-up No Questions Asked was beaten next time, but Regent’s Stroll, only third at Newbury, had too many guns for Jeriko Du Reponet at Wincanton next time, and the form looks solid for the level. Wendigo has always looked a late-maturing type, and has been looked after by Jamie Snowden. This is when that kindness gets repaid, and he can put down a marker for the spring festivals by winning this Grade 1 contest.

1.55 Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

The Christmas Hurdle is a bit of a head-scratcher with Sir Gino returning from a year off the track and reverting to hurdles after his impressive Wayward Lad win at this meting last year.

You could take the view that he might be rusty or that any horse returning from injury is a risky bet, but he was very impressive when stepping into Constitution Hill’s shoes in the Fighting Fifth last season having been prepared for his chase debut prior to Newcastle, and I don’t see him having any trouble with reverting to the smaller obstacles. I’m also more forgiving of his injury layoff as he was announced to be out for the season at a time that meant his return was always going to be around Christmas time, and I’d have been much more worried had potential comeback races come and gone without positive news. More importantly, it was an infection rather than a bone or tendon injury which put him on the sidelines, and that makes his preparation much less complicated. He should, in short, have too much class for the gallant Golden Ace at all.

2.30 Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1) 3m

A cracking King George in prospect, and one which will be tactically intriguing. Favourite Gaelic Warrior was ridden aggressively for a change when getting the better of a duel with Fact To File in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown, but whether connections will want to gun him to the front over this longer trip is not certain, especially as The Jukebox Man and Il Est Francais can be expected to go forward from flagfall.

On the other hand, I’d be keen to take the latter on from and early stage as he simply looks vulnerable when not allowed to dictate his own terms, as he was when second to Banbridge in this 12 months ago. Those who were held up last year - winner aside - struggled as a rule to get involved and that tends to be a recurring theme on the chase course at Kempton, which favours boldness and accurate jumping, a feature which has often made the King George one of the most watchable races of the entire season. We should assume that even if Gaelic Warrior doesn’t lead, he will sit fairly close to the pace and asked to strike on in the home straight.

He has the crucial blend of speed and stamina to suggest this race will suit him much better than a Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the other ace up his sleeve is an almost perfect record when racing right-handed. The seven-year-old has often been crabbed for jumping to his right on left-handed tracks, but his only blemish going this way round was when beaten over two miles at Punchestown in 2024 by Il Etait Temps, an effort which looks much better now than it did at the time.

Fact To File will find a dead three miles more suitable than the Gold Cup trip, too, but his best effort last season by some way was his impressive Ryanair success at Cheltenham in March and while much is made of the sharpness of the Kempton track, very few short runners every win this contest, and I think the longer trip will allow Gaelic Warrior to confirm Durkan placings.

The Jukebox Man will jump and travel, but while he was impressive last time, he hasn’t had to beat the calibre of opposition that the selection has, and he may come up just short in his stiffest task to date.

Recommended

Noble Park 12.45 Kempton – 2pts win @ 9/4 (general)

Wendigo 1.20 Kempton – 1pt win @ 11/4 (VirginBet, BetMGM, 5/2 general)

Sir Gino 1.55 Kempton – 2pts win @ 3/1 (Hills, 11/4 general)

Gaelic Warrior 2.30 Kempton – 2pts win @ 3/1 (Hills, 11/4 general)