14:05 Kempton

Monday 26 December 2016

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

32Red Kauto Star Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 53.45s

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Selected odds by:

Amore Alato⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: J Farrelly| OR: 137

8/1

Jockey knows how to get the best out of him (two wins and three seconds from six rides). Excelled on his first attempt over today's trip last time with an accomplished round of jumping, although the form may be misleading as his two main rivals ran well below par.

Form: 2U249-1

Anibale Fly^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: A J Martin| OR: 149

3/1

Split a useful pair in a same grade race at Fairyhouse earlier in the month and the form of his previous Navan victory has also worked out well. The trip and ground are unknown factors but he boasts a useful turn of foot and and is suited to waiting tactics. With a strong pace expected, the race should be run to suit.

Form: 112P14

Caracci Apache¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N D Fehily| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135

33/1

Smart novice hurdler two seasons ago but seems to have been difficult to train. He raced too keenly on both his previous starts over fences and others are preferred.

Form: 11P2/3-F

Churchtown Champ^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: T Scudamore| T: D Skelton| OR: 142

20/1

Has done little wrong and continues to progress. However, this is his sternest test to date and there is nothing in the form book to suggest he is up to this level of competition.

Form: F144-21

Might Bite¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148

11/2

Was up there with the best of these over hurdles but is yet to show the same level of form over fences. He attempts three miles for the first time and cannot be completely ruled out.

Form: 1/517-21

Minella Daddy^b⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 145

11/2

Has developed into a top class novice chaser. This will require another career best but his current rate of progress suggests he will not be far away.

Form: 8-22112

Present Man^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Sherwood| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

10/1

Beat a small but select field in emphatic style last time and gave the impression he would be suited by a return to a right-handed track. He is tactically versatile and his trainer has won this race three times previously (all six-year-olds).

Form: 1U1141

Royal Vacation^b1,t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 131

33/1

Is a progressive young horse but this race requires a giant leap forward. Stable won this in 2007 with Joe Lively.

Form: 21311P

Virgilio^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 146

10/1

Jumping has let him down on his two latest starts against top class chasers and he looks to be a risky proposition in a race as good as this.

Form: 11P223-

Frodon¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 153

10/3

Stepped up on previous form to win a Grade 3 last time after always travelling well in a strongly run race. He should take the step up in trip in his stride and this progressive young chaser is the one they all have to beat.

Form: 11101F

Forecasts

Anibale Fly (3/1), Frodon (10/3), Minella Daddy (11/2), Might Bite (11/2), Amore Alato (8/1), Virgilio (10/1), Present Man (10/1), Churchtown Champ (20/1), Royal Vacation (33/1), Caracci Apache (33/1)

In an open renewal of this event, marginal preference is given to ANIBALE FLY based on his excellent second in another competitive Grade 1 novices chase at Fairyhouse last time out where he gave the impression this longer trip would suit. Connections are expecting a big run and he is taken to account for Frodon who produced an outstanding effort to win at Cheltenham last time, especially given his young age. His stable companion Present Man also beat a good field last time and should be even better going right-handed here. 1. Anibale Fly 2. Frodon 3. Present Man