Doubts exist as to whether or not Kempton races on Saturday, 11 January can survive freezing overnight temperatures. Frost and ice remains in the UK weather forecast until after the meeting.
If Kempton Park can beat the cold snap, then the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase headlines this seven-race card. The big betting race, meanwhile, is the Lanzarote Hurdle, which has five times as many runners.
Alongside these, the supporting card contains the usual mix of handicaps and novice or juvenile hurdles. With its tight turns and easy track, Kempton races is a good place to start racehorses off on their journey.
With so many other meetings falling by the wayside in the wintry conditions, traders on horse racing betting sites focus their attention here. Thanks to its location in Sunbury-on-Thames, it’s easy to reach the course in Greater London.
Enter our horse racing experts for their analysis of the card. They look at the key players in every single race and have recommendations as to who to back and why.
Kempton Races Preview for 11 January
12:25 – 2m Class 2 Juvenile Hurdle
As the latter carries the same penalty for winning two races including at Listed level and has had longer to acclimatise to the UK, Paul Nicholls’ recruit shades the vote. Sauvignon only needed pushing out to score very nicely last time and that impressed the British handicapper.
He starts life off on these shores with a mark of 138. That puts Sauvignon among the upper echelon of UK-based juveniles. James Owen’s Lavender Hill Mob has been disappointing since switching from the Flat, meanwhile, and recent winners Hosaamm and Moutarde are in much deeper waters now.
1:00 – 2m Class 3 Novice Hurdle
Khrisma is a Grade 3 winner across the Channel also placed at the highest level. Opposition to her is meagre, so the penalised Fingle Bridge may give her most to think about. The trouble is Olly Murphy’s charge concedes 13lb to Khrisma after an easy odds-on Uttoxeter maiden success last time out.
Lud’or has a somewhat lofty mark of 120 for what he’s achieved with Tom Symonds, meanwhile, but is the only other runner in the early market with online bookies at shorter than 16/1. As a four-race maiden, the standard set is pretty low. Others to note include Gary & Josh Moore Flat convert Graham and Chris Gordon’s Irish pointing recruit Atomic Level.
1:35 – 2m 4f 110y Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-140)
Not a reliable bunch heading to Kempton races by any means with only two last time out winners in the line-up. It’s not them so much as TRIPLE TRADE who appeals stepping back up in trip here. Joe Tizzard’s charge is a course winner and looks well-treated off 8lb lower than his 2m 3f Ascot success last season.
Conditions are a question mark, but connections of Triple Trade seem to have accepted he no longer has the speed for a two-mile chase. He could have more to offer over this distance instead. Topweight Saint Segal has an 8lb hike for his Newbury success, but also ran well this time last year when a close second to First Flow at the Winter Million fixture.
If Warren Greatrex has turned the corner with Keep Running, meanwhile, then he has claims. The handicapper didn’t take him making all around Ludlow literally, so he’s only 7lb higher for a 17-length romp. Bhaloo didn’t look a natural over fences at Ascot two starts ago, while Heltenham and Sir Psycho tie in closely together.
2:10 – 3m Class 2 Handicap Chase (0-145)
Although sent chasing relatively late in his career, ROCCOVANGO can make it three wins from four and follow-up on Uttoxeter success at Kempton races with the assessor nudging him up 2lb. Murphy and Sean Bowen have a consistent type on their hands here. Roccovango is also lightly-raced for his age and could still have further improvement in him.
Lurking at the foot of the weights, meanwhile, is Hunter Legend. A half-brother of fellow Venetia Williams horse Cepage, there are stamina doubts about him over this trip. That sibling didn’t get three miles, so there is a case against Hunter Legend despite his featherweight.
This doesn’t appear to be a sufficient stamina test for Surrey Quest or Kitty’s Light, while Kyntara hasn’t looked a natural over fences. Topweight Remastered could go well if taking to first-time blinkers, however. David Pipe’s beloved veteran is 2lb lower in the handicap than when successful over course and distance.
2:45 – 2m 4f 110y Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase
Martator seems best at Ascot, meanwhile, and steps up in trip on a flat track that didn’t seem to suit him when third in Desert Orchid over Christmas for Williams and stable jockey Charlie Deutsch. Hitman has one win over fences to his name, meanwhile, and a sole success in nearly four years.
He has been the most frustrating horse to follow, but ran well on reappearance when second in the Old Roan at Aintree. Freddie Gingell again takes the ride, but cannot claim weight off Hitman here. Unexpected Party can pick up over £4,000 in prize money just for jumping round in his own time.
3:18 – 2m 5f Class 2 Lanzarote Hurdle
With his Aintree form from October also working out well, this pick of two Fergal O’Brien horses looks a bit of each way value. Those in and around Kamsinas crossing the line at Haydock – Beat The Bat, Knight Of Allen and Punta Del Este all have claims too.
If building on a successful reappearance, then Impose Toi has the talent to defy joint-topweight and improve on last year’s third place for Henderson and McManus. He is 7lb higher in the weights, though. Fellow Newbury scorer Jipcot has 8lb more for his own last time out victory with wind surgery working.
O’Brien also saddles Plaisir Des Flos, who found a route up the stands rail blocked off by the winner when challenging at the final hurdle during Cheltenham’s November Meeting. He appeared to finish his race off better in third than re-opposing fifth Il Va De Soi. Punta Del Este is the clear best of three for Dan Skelton’s yard.
3:55 – 2m Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (0-130)
In the concluding event from Kempton races, JOUR D’EVASION appeals most. Henry Daly’s charge chased home a subsequent course and distance winner around Sandown and is only 4lb higher now. Jour D’Evasion has never finished outside of the first three under Sam Twiston-Davies, so looks solid each way value.
Harry Derham runs three with Court In The Act the pick if the market is correct. Harry Cobden rides Monviel for the same stable, while Gerry Feilden hero Navajo Indy drops markedly in class with an 8lb rise to contend with. Spirits Bay is also prominent for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
At bigger odds and lower down the weights, Bucephalus should find Kempton less arduous than Chepstow for Neil Mulholland. Harriet Tucker again takes the ride and 7lb off with her claim. French import Ninth Loch is the third runner for Derham and 6lb lower in the weights for his UK debut than his stable companions.
