Kempton Sunday Preview

Our first selection of the day from Kempton comes in the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase over two miles and we can't look past the favourite Shishkin.

The six year old since falling on his hurdles debut has shown bundles of ability and plenty of gears when it comes to finishing his races which have seen him land three contests in a row at Newbury, Huntingdon and of course Prestbury Park.

His win in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle has since been franked with the narrow second Abacadbras for Gordon Elliott since going on to land the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle, with third Chantry House and fourth Asterion Forlonge both going on to win on chase debut.

Shishkin could not be upstaged and on chase debut in November showed the racing world just how good he is by pinging every fence and showing the turn of foot of last term, when just being nudged by Nico De Boinville and going away from the second placed Mick Pastor with ease.

He is a horse that looks to be very special and this should be a formality.

Altior is the horse that everyone will be looking to see at Kempton and it would be a huge shock if he was to get beat in the Grade Two Desert Orchid Chase.

The 10-year-old has been a horse of a lifetime for his connections during his career being beaten just once over obstacles, landing a 19 race unbeaten run before that, that lasted from 2015 up until November 2019 where Cyrname got the better of him when he was stepped up in trip for the first time.

Henderson's stable star has seen off every horse possible in the two mile division winning at four consecutive Cheltenham festivals and overall having 10 Grade One wins to his name.

Having suffered a setback before the festival last term he was ruled out of the Champion Chase and having now put that behind him and undergone a racecourse gallop at Newbury he should be fit and ready for this event.

If anywhere near his best he will be tough to beat in this race which he won back in 2018.

Next up is the competitive Handicap Chase over three miles and Royal Pagaille for Venetia Williams looks like a very nice type.

The six year owned by Rich Ricci did not show a lot last season but on seasonal debut this term was an emphatic winner of a Novices' Chase at Haydock.

Although going up 5lb for that win he looks to be very progressive and should come on again for that performance, with the step up in trip set to suit aswell.

The final selection of the day from Kempton comes in the Class 3 Handicap Hurdle over two miles and Fergal O'Brien fields The Bees Knees who looks an exciting runner.

The five year old has been frequently raced this season already being seen five times and running to a good standard in all of those events.

Having won three starts ago at Newton Abbot, he was then sent to Musselburgh and made it back to back wins for the yard with a taking performance.

Last time out he was sent into a better race at Cheltenham and finished a fair fourth behind some nice types, with both the first and second since going on to frank the form.

Dropping back down to a Class 3 should see this gelding go close once more.