The best racing is at Kempton this afternoon with three Group 2 races and a premier handicap chase to enjoy. Let's see if we can land our first winner of 2023 for this weekly column.
I am keen to side with young chasers who remain unexposed in this valuable premier handicap chase. Killer Kane has a 5lb penalty following his success over course and distance two weeks ago. Frodon is top weight and as a result Killer Kane is 3lbs out of the handicap despite carrying a feather weight of 10-2. I’m not overly concerned about that as he won easily last time out when jumping fluently to post a career best over fences. His record is three wins out of ten runs over fences. We know he likes it around Kempton winning twice over three miles on good ground. Brendan Powell rides and with ground and trip ideal he should be bang there at the finish.
Our Power is such a type with three wins from seven starts over fences. He finished third in this race last season despite a few blunders in his first run in an open handicap chase. That was impressive and he backed it up with a fifth place run in the Ultima handicap chase at the Cheltenham festival, where not fully getting up the hill. I loved the way he travelled down the hill that day looking a major threat with the ground good on the day. This season he looked a stronger stayer when winning at Ascot over three miles on good ground. The plan was to go for the Coral Trophy at Newbury but he suffered a setback. Sam Thomas knows how to ready a horse off a break and I think Our Power will run a big race here.
Cap Du Nord won a similar race at Ascot last Saturday. If none the worse for that effort he remains on a good mark and goes well at Kempton. The Paul Nicholls pair are getting on in years but are graded horses. Frodon goes well on nice ground but does have 12 stone on his back. Maybe, Harry Cobden will manage to settle Saint Calvados to allos this talented horse run his best race and stay the three miles.
Kempton 3:00
0.5 point each way Killer Kane 12/1 Paddy Power & Betfair SB, both 4 places.
0.5 point each way Our Power 5/1 Skybet 5 places else 9/2 generally, 4 places.
Best of Luck, Nicky