1:15 Coral Racing Club

Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f

Chris Gordon is a fine trainer who endured a poor spell of form this winter – he landed a double on November 6th but managed just two more winners from over 60 runners in the next two months.

His horses have returned to form in recent weeks, however, and five of his last 11 runners have been successful, so he’s one to note now turning the corner, and can hit the mark with the unexposed Sea Invasion.

The selection makes his handicap debut having finished third to Jericho Du Reponet at Newbury, and his latest fourth over two miles at this track was both an eye-catching effort and a clear career best, with Bryony Frost not hard on him when it was clear he wouldn’t win.

The step up to two miles five furlongs should help here as he’s from a stout German flat family and his opening mark isn’t harsh for all he’s just out of the handicap.

This is a meeting that Gordon targets with some success, so it’s likely the son of Sea The Moon has been earmarked for this contest for some time.

1:50 Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m

Kalif Du Berlais was impressive when scoring over course and distance last month, and he has been backed accordingly, but Captain Marvellous produced an equally impressive time figure over course and distance in November, barely coming out of third gear to win an admittedly moderate juvenile maiden by 23 lengths.

Unlike Kalif Du Berlais, Captain Marvellous holds no Triumph Hurdle entry but that isn’t to suggest that he’s not held in high regard, and Jane Williams has made just one entry for Cheltenham next month, preferring to hunt more realistic targets elsewhere.

A son of Masked Marvel – like Kalif Du Berlais – Captain Marvellous should progress again and is capable of giving the favourite a fright.

2:27 Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f 110y

With no confirmed front runner in the Pendil, I’m hopeful that Caoilin Quinn will take the bull by the horns on Le Patron who disappointed when held on to in the Scilly Isles behind Nickle Back but had been impressive when ridden with more enterprise in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at the same track in December.

He has a penalty to carry for that win, which complicates matters, but he could prove hard to catch with positive tactics utilised and I’m unconvinced by Tahmuras as a chaser.

3:37 Coral Trophy Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m

The flat three miles at Kempton is often viewed as a sharp test at the trip, but it can be pretty gruelling when the ground gets testing and very few non-stayers have won a King George over the years, so stamina and an ability to handle heavy ground are prerequisites for this contest.

That counts against many of the runners, notably the Nicholls pair Solo and Il Ridoto on stamina grounds, while testing ground is a major worry for the fancied pair Flegmatik and Tweed Skirt.

One who ticks almost all the boxes is Blackjack Magic and he should go well returned to softer ground after a pair of defeats on a sound surface. He’s well found in the market, though, and I’m inclined to take a chance on Bowtogreatness at a bigger price.

Ben Pauling’s chaser has form on what Timeform describes as heavy ground of 23113. He was a dual winner over hurdles in the mud and his only run over fences on such a surface saw him finish a good third to Complete Unknown at level weights.

That gelding went on to finish second in a Grade 1 at Aintree and the form is solid, for all Bowtogreatness has been below that level twice this season.

He faded as if the run was badly needed in the Mandarin at Newbury on his return and ran much better than the result when fifth of 12 to Ginny’s Destiny in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap at Cheltenham, again looking short of peak fitness.

He should be cherry ripe after those two runs and is just 1lb higher than when an excellent second in the Freebooter Handicap Chase on Grand National Day last year.

2:45 BetUK Hever Sprint Stakes (Listed) 4f 214y

Diligent Harry is expected to go very close if the drop back to five furlongs doesn’t inconvenience him, and while he does most of his racing at six furlongs, he was able to lead and ran well enough in the Group 3 Coral Charge at Sandown last year to think he should get away with it in this company, particularly with the track likely to suit.

He looked as good as ever on his first start of this year when defeating Annaf at Lingfield at the start of the month, making all and always finding enough in the finish to hold on.

He is drawn next to speedy five furlongs specialist Fine Wine and while that may be viewed as a negative, it should help him get a good tow into the race, and recent evidence suggests that a draw towards the far side of the track should be an advantage.

2:08 Betting.Bet Eider Handicap Chase 4m 1f 56y

This is not the most competitive renewal of the Eider with only a quartet of the runners rated 130+ and its credibility as a Grand National trial is paper-thin. That said, it’s an interesting race given the stamina demands and few make much appeal on recent evidence.

Anglers Crag and Fenland Tiger are the two horses who dominate the market, and while the former is respected, it’s Sam England’s eight-year-old that makes more appeal at the prices.

Winner of three of his last four, he’s got five and a half lengths to make up on Anglers Crag on their Carlisle form in December but finds himself 7lb better off today, and has progressed again since, having beaten Prince Des Fichaux over what’s probably a minimum for him here last time out.

He shapes like this marathon trip ought to suit, and heavy ground will pose no problems, while he’s already a very fluent jumper of fences which is always a positive when there is so much jumping to do.

Captain Marvellous 1:50 Kempton – 1pt win @ 8/1 (general)

Le Patron 2:27 Kempton – 1pt win @ 9/2 (general)

Bowtogreatness 3:37 Kempton – 1pt e/w @ 7/1 (SkyBet – 5 places)

Fenland Tiger 2:08 Newcastle – 1pt win @ 6/1 (general)

Diligent Harry 2:45 Southwell – 2pts win @ 10/3 (general)