Kempton will host their first Jump fixture of the year – an action-packed afternoon of quality racing including the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase and the Listed Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle.
The feature handicap is named after 1974 Champion Hurdle winner Lanzarote, who also had great success at this track, and this year carries a purse that totals £98,370 as the field of 19 go in search of glory on Saturday.
Adrian Wall provides his analysis on the big race as well as some other selections on Saturday’s competitive card from Kempton, where they race from 12.20 until 3.50, with the feature itself the Lanzarote due off at 2.42.
2.42 Kempton – Listed Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (2m5f)
A field of 19 will engage in battle for Kempton's famous handicap and they are to be headlined by Nicky Henderson's ante-post favourite Impose Toi – the mount of James Bowen.
Owned by JP McManus, the six-year-old justified market support when making a successful return from a break at Cheltenham’s November meeting, winning with plenty in hand off a mark of 121.
Impost Toi then went to Ascot for the Betfair Exchange Trophy and, despite being weak in the market, he ran a cracker.
Stablemate Luccia just got the better of him but Impose Toi made a mistake at a crucial stage of the race which cost him. He rallied to the line so the step up in trip should be in his favour, but no favourite has won the Lanzarote since Yala Enki back in 2016.
Four of the last five winners of the Lanzarote have gone off at double-digit odds, and one lurking at a big price who looks overpriced in the market is Lucinda Russell's SERIOUS OPERATOR, whose chances are enhanced by 5lb claimer Alan Doyle.
The seven-year-old son of Malinas is a straightforward horse who enjoys a flatter track, and he won with plenty to spare when seeing off the classy Pentland Hills over 2m3½f at Doncaster last month.
Serious Operator is effectively only 3lb higher in the weights now taking riders' claims into account, so he could still be well ahead of the assessor.
1.30 Kempton – New Bet-In-Race With Coral Handicap Chase (3m)
There are a couple of competitive betting heats to sink your teeth into before the feature race on the card, starting with the 3m handicap chase, where Kim Bailey's top weight Chianti Classico bids to land a hat-trick of wins.
The seven-year-old son of Shantou successfully continued his chasing education when making it a perfect 2-2 over fences at Ascot in November, and he is only 1lb higher in the weights now.
Chianti Classico won all but one of his outings as a novice hurdler so he evidently has plenty of class, and he is entitled to be up near the head of the market with Harry Cobden booked for the ride.
It wasn't a strong race he won when last seen, however, and LATITUDE is the one who could lower his colours. Mel Rowley's runner made all when scoring over course and distance comfortably last May, leaving some good horses trailing in his wake.
He disappointed in an amateur riders' handicap chase at Cheltenham in November on his return, but he bounced back to form when a gallant second at Ludlow last month which should have put him spot on for this assignment.
2.07 Kempton – Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase (2m4½f)
A field of five runners have been declared for what looks like a competitive renewal of the Silviniaco Conti Chase, and it has been made all the more interesting with a pair of Irish raiders included in the line-up.
Joseph O'Brien's Banbridge – a Cheltenham Festival winner and a Grade 1 winner at Aintree when last seen winning the Manifesto Novices' Chase in April - is a big threat to all if he's at his best on his return to action.
Willie Mullins is also represented by Janidil who himself won a Grade 1 as a novice chaser. However, he will have to improve a good deal on his nine-length trashing by Allaho in the Clonmel Oil Chase.
Paul Nicholls has won three of the last four runnings of this race and he must have another very strong contender in the form of PIC D'ORHY, who is back to defend his crown.
He may have been given victory when Shishkin refused to race at Ascot in November, but he is unbeaten here at Kempton and demolished his rivals in this race 12 months ago. This is a tougher renewal but he should be well up to winning.
Edwardstone and Notlongtillmay round off the field, with the former going back up in trip as connections are probably fed up of looking at Jonbon's rear end.
3.50 Kempton – Coral Committed To Safer-Gambling Handicap Hurdle (2m)
Only six runners go to post for the finale and, down at the foot of the weights, ARQOOB is of interest for trainer Lucy Wadham with Bryony Frost booked for the ride.
Once rated as high as 94 on the Flat, this is his second spell with the Wadham yard, and he impressed when winning in style at Sandown in November off a mark of 114.
Arqoob was disappointing at the same venue next time from a 7lb higher mark, but the ground was bottomless that day so he had a valid excuse for the below-par effort.
The six-year-old son of Estidhkaar has been dropped 3lb by the handicapper off the back of that run and, in receipt of weight from the majority of the field, he should pose a real threat to his rivals if he can bounce back to form.
Tony Carroll has a rare runner over obstacles in the form of Douglas DC, who could turn out to be the selection's biggest danger. Formerly trained by Gordon Elliott, the gelding ran a huge race in fourth at Ascot when sent off at odds of 125/1 in December, and James Bowen is a positive taking over in the saddle.
