JUST RIGHT FOR LE REVE
Chaser is suited to Kempton
LUCY WADHAM will be hoping Le Reve’s preference for right- handed tracks means he can go one better in the feature £ 100,000 Betbright Handicap Chase at Kempton today after finishing second last year.
Some horses show a pronounced bias in their running style and LE REVE (Kempton, 3.35) has only won at a right-handed circuit.
All of his six wins for Newmarket trainer Wadham have come on that type of track, including last time out at Sandown when Harry Skelton’s mount confirmed impressions he was coming to the boil with a two- and- a- quarter length defeat of Pete The Feat.
That run, where the application of blinkers for the first time sparked a positive response, was a step up on Le Reve’s previous effort when beaten 24 lengths in the Sky Bet Chase at left-handed Doncaster by Ziga Boy, who is 5lb worse off.
Strictly on the form book, Le Reve should not beat last year’s winner Rocky Creek, but the latter is coming into the race in poor form and to have any chance he needs the blinkers he will be wearing for the first time to work for him.
Novice chasers Thomas Brown and Champagne West, travelling well when squeezed and making a bad mistake at Cheltenham last time, must go on the shortlist along with Roc d’Apsis, ridden by Richard Johnson. He is a course winner and potentially still improving.
Also, do not write off Ruben Cotter because of his long absence as he has won returning from a decent break before.
BUN DORAN (Newcastle, nb, 3.25) recorded a decent time on his latest win at Haydock while the day’s best bet could be LIGHTSCAMERACTION (Lingfield, nap, 1.45). There are some useful sprinters in his race but he excels over five furlongs at the all-weather track.
Gold Cup hope Cue Card, trained by Colin Tizzard, heads a clutch of high-profile Cheltenham Festival contenders galloping an hour before racing at Kempton.
They also include 2015 World Hurdle winner Cole Harden and one of the main rivals to retaining his crown, Saphir Du Rheu.
Paul Nicholls, who trains Saphir Du Rheu, is also using the session to get his 2015 Coral Cup winner Aux Ptits Soins on a racecourse for the first time this season.
Nicky Henderson’s 2014 Champion Hurdle runner-up My Tent Or Yours and stablemate Hargam, who will be ridden by Sir Anthony McCoy, will also gallop, although they will not be jumping hurdles as they did at the track two weeks ago. THE Gordon Elliott-trained Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Don Cossack is one of the Irish stars on show at the annual postracing gallops at Leopardstown tomorrow.