A midwinter cold snap leaves the meeting of Kempton races on Saturday, 10 January in doubt. If it can survive frosty conditions and Storm Goretti, then the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase takes place at the Greater London track. Supported by the big betting race of the fixture, the Lanzarote Hurdle, there are some nice types running.
Coral sponsor the entire card, which has the usual mix of handicaps supporting these main events. Lost to the wintry weather last year, Kempton Park is looking to build on some strong attendance of its Christmas Festival when the King George VI Chase served up one of the most dramatic finishes of the jumps season so far. It’s some act to follow.
The Kempton races on 10 January fulfil a different purpose to that festive fixture. Firstly, the Silviniaco Conti Chase is a chance for Paul Nicholls to step Kalif Du Berlais up in trip and see how he does around an easy extended two-and-a-half miles. Taking on more experienced steeplechasers and much older horses that don’t have his scope for further improvement adds intrigue.
Later on the card, the Lanazrote Hurdle gives something for punters to get stuck into with online horse racing bookies thanks to a large field. Keeping the January blues away with some form study are our experts, who take a view on all the action from Sunbury-on-Thames. Check out all of their Saturday selections from this card below, plus a shortlist for the big betting race.
Kempton Races Preview for Saturday, 10 January
12:20 – 2m Class 3 Novice Hurdle
Representing Alan King, he sets the standard on ratings with a mark of 126. Baron Noir bumped into a next time out winner on his hurdling debut but, when going one better himself around Uttoxeter, he looked to be doing his best work at the finish. That indicates he may find stepping up in trip a help. Of the others, Shabalko d’Herm carries a double penalty for the Twiston-Davies team.
He drops back into an ordinary if warm novice after trailing in last of five in Listed company at Sandown. Shabalko d’Herm was all out to land his second hurdling success around Bangor, so it looks a big ask for him to bounce back. Kocktail Bleu is the other penalised runner for Freddie and Chris Gordon dropped in distance. Dan Skelton Flat convert Gambino is one to note on his hurdles debut.
12:55 – 2m 4f 100y Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-140)
🏆 The @Coral Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase 🏆
🥇 Booster Bob
🥈 Leader In The Park
🥉 Prairie WolfBooster Bob does it again – a fantastic ride under Sean Bowen for Olly Murphy 🚀 pic.twitter.com/hrmQLhjeXv
— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) November 29, 2025
Leader In The Park now drops back in distance. Although off a career high mark, his stable has been very profitable to follow over fences on online betting sites this season. As Leader In The Park scored over course and distance as a novice, albeit off a 12lb lower rating, he appeals most to strip fitter for that fine reappearance effort last time. Nicholls runs two, meanwhile, and topweight Outlaw Peter likes it here.
Harry Cobden rides the novice Go West, however, who routed Old Cowboy over hurdles here in April. The latter has since scored at Newbury in this sphere for Gary & Josh Moore. Old Cowboy has a 5lb hike from the handicapper for that with Go West up 3lb himself for a nose defeat from Doncaster. Lookaway isn’t a natural over fences for Neil King, while bottom weight Peso looks open to progress.
1:30 – 2m Class 3 Juvenile Hurdle
There are only two last time out winners in the line-up and both escape penalties. Wertpol shaped nicely around Taunton, a similar type of track to this one, for Harry Derham. He was only modest on the Flat, however. Doncaster scorer Dissident previously ran third over course and distance, so may need further improvement.
Pourqoi Pas Papa flies the flag for Ditcheat here after a couple of seconds either side of moving to Nicholls’ yard from France. As with Precious Man, we know a little more about his French form. Sandown conqueror Macktoad hardly advertised his claims with a poor performance in the Grade 2 Finale at Chepstow over Christmas, though. The others have even less to recommend them.
2:05 – 3m Class 2 Handicap Chase (0-145)
Drama at the last!
Tom Bellamy just about keeps the partnership with The Doyen Chief intact, but opens the door for Deep Cave, who duly obliges at @BangorRaces!@jacktudor9 @CWilliamsRacing pic.twitter.com/BA91n3Oyuf
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 12, 2025
Dropping him back in distance on an easier track looks a smart move. Welcom To Cartries was all out at Sandown when just getting his head in front, so a 4lb rise doesn’t help matters. The narrow runner-up didn’t exactly advertise the form when fading into third on New Year’s Day. Topweight Soul Icon has to prove his stamina, meanwhile, but has won around here before.
Beachcomber is the other course and distance winner in the line-up, but hasn’t reproduced his frontrunning heroics from Christmas 2024 in first-time blinkers since. He’s still 7lb higher than his successful mark with the handicapper stubborn about cutting much slack for Jonjo O’Neill and sons. Sea Invasion is 4lb out of the weights, while Pauling veteran Your Darling may struggle.
2:40 – 2m 4f 110y Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase
The Exeter form looks solid with the front two again finishing first and second in the Desert Orchid here over Christmas. Elsewhere, King veteran Edwardstone tries this race again after fading into fourth in the last edition two years ago. He kept on into second in the Peterborough Chase last time, so it’s worth another go off bottom weight despite his advanced age of 12.
King George also ran Master Chewy might pose a bigger threat down in trip, based on his staying on Old Roan second behind Hitman in the autumn. He finished ahead of Boombawn conceding the same 3lb to that one at Aintree as he does here. Master Chewy’s Ryanair Chase fifth reads well in relation to this level and small field.
3:17 – 2m 5f Class 2 Lanzarote Hurdle (Handicap)
Jimmy Du Seuil smoothly lands the Coral Cup 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/kmdmoQD1YI
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2025
The form horses sit at the head of the market on this Kempton races feature handicap. A Pai De Nom is three from four for Team Skelton this season and gets in with an unchanged mark after landing a Leicester novice under a double penalty down in trip. Unlike the last twice, however, stable conditional Tristan Durrell doesn’t take any weight off his back.
Pauling runs Lanesborough, who bolted up from a subsequent course winner at Doncaster. He has a hefty hike of a whole stone to deal with here, but it amazingly only translates to a racing weight of 10st 12lb. That’s down to the presence of French Ship framing the handicap for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White. Up another 10lb himself, connections book Callum Pritchard to take 3lb off with his claim.
Coral Cup fourth BEAT THE BAT appeals more at better odds, because of some strong back form. Harry Fry’s charge is only 1lb higher here in an easier race than his Cheltenham run. The two miles and five furlongs trip of the Lanzarote could be optimum for Beat The Bat. He was just a couple of length behind Impose Toi during the Festival, and that one has developed into a Grade 1 staying hurdler since.
Fry Runner Fancied on Pick of Last Season’s Form
Just behind Beat The Bar that day was subsequent Lismullen Hurdle hero Colonel Mustard, so now reverting to this sphere from chasing he must have a good chance. Nicholls runs three, meanwhile, and the thriving Fasol, who has developed a good understanding with daughter Olive, looks the pick of them.
The O’Neill clan try Wreckless Eric up in trip here. While he didn’t deliver at Aintree, having shaped in Sandown’s Imperial Cup for all the world like an intermediate trip would suit him, he’s well worth trying over this middle-distance again. Jeremy Scott and Neil Mulholland have a couple of runners each, but either look exposed or handicapped up to their best with one exception.
That is the former trainer’s Came From Nowhere. Although up 7lb for his Hereford win, he only needed pushing out for a cosy success and looked value for more than the margin of victory. Yellow Star scored over this trip last time for the Moore stable, but isn’t the most consistent or reliable. Derham French import Just Ennemi could be anything with his opening handicap hurdle mark a guess.
3:53 – 2m Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (0-130)
Open to more progress lower in the weights is COURAGEOUS STRIKE for Cobden, Nicholls and The Owners Group. While his wins don’t amount to much form wise, the assessor has been kind in not rising his rating for a narrow defeat in a three-horse field at Doncaster last time. Courageous Strike is a Flat convert that will appreciate the forecast sound surface.
Skelton runs handicap debutant Quaviste, meanwhile, off the same mark of 113. His Market Rasen conqueror has a 125 rating after completing a four-timer across bumpers and hurdles. That leaves the impression that Quaviste could be well-treated now starting off in handicaps. As for the others, they look like tricky horses to place
