Course Form is Key at Kempton.

We head to Kempton this afternoon in great form having backed the winner in our last two Big Saturday Race Previews.

The three mile handicap chase is very competitive with all of 18 runners going to post. This will be fast and furious with a premium on sound jumping. The ground is good which is a relief, following a very wet winter.

Cap Du Nord is a more realistic price this morning and worth getting onside. He will love the decent ground having sprinting clear on such ground at Newbury in November. On that occasion he won nicely from Canelo who went on to win the Meyrick Chase at Wetherby. Cap Du Nord might a good one in Royal Pagaille over course and distance at the Christmas meeting. Both he and the winner pulled 19 lengths clear of the third home with a further 8.5 lengths back to Mellow Ben.

That was a cracking run by Cap Du Nord who followed up with a solid run on soft ground when placing at Doncaster. His current handicap mark of 142 is fine with Jack Tudor taking a further 3lbs off his back.

Mister Malarkey won this race last season easier than the official winning distance of two lengths. He race on the front end that day, jumped well and had them all in trouble turning for home. This season he surprised when winning a really good handicap chase at Ascot over three miles on heavy ground from The Conditional and Regal Encore. That is proper form and little surprise the handicapper raised him to a mark of 156. He bombed out at Doncaster in the Skybet handicap chase but that is Mister Malarkey in a nutshell.

Mister Malarkey blows hot and cold but will relish the better ground this afternoon. The Tizzard yard has found it tough this season with a bug but their horses are turning a corner. Mister Malarkey is ridden by 7lb claimer Harry Kimber which helps reduce the weight carried by Mister Malarkey to just 2lbs higher than last year. He is worth backing at such a big price following a recent wind procedure.

Kempton - 3:35

0.5 Point Each Way Cap Du Nord 7/1 Skybet paying 6 places else 7/1 generally, look for bookies paying 5 places.

0.5 Point Each Way Mister Malarkey 25/1 Skybet paying 6 places else 28/1 Coral & William Hill, both paying 5 places.

Compare Odds at Kempton 15:35 Betting Odds Winner | Horse Racing | Oddschecker