Put your faith in the Saint
badly out of form and could struggle.
Ballykan and Viva Steve are on higher marks than when beaten here last year and have both been found lacking when running in competitive races since.
The duo left are the first two in the market but confidence in the pair is increased by the fact they are trained by experts at winning this contest, Tom George and Paul Nicholls. The George-trained
Double Shuffle came back to form here over Christmas but is 6lb higher today and may not be as attractively weighted as Nicholls’ IRISH SAINT.
He won the novice chase on this card in 2015 and has dropped in the weights this season despite running solid races.
He’s unexposed at this trip so have 2pts win at 11-2 generally. TODAY’S BetBright Chase (3.35 Kempton) is well up to recent standards in terms of class.
However, it’s far removed from past glory and none of the last 10 winners have gone on to achieve anything of note.
A scan through the stats from the last decade tells us today’s winner will fit these trends:
Be aged from seven to nine. Carry over 10st 5lb Have decent track form over fences.
We now have a shortlist of Annacotty, Double Shuffle, Irish Saint, Cocktails At Dawn, Ballykan and Viva Steve.
Annacotty and Cocktails At Dawn are