Kempton Sunday Jumps Preview

Having bypassed the first race of the day we move straight onto the Class 4 Handicap Chase and the Tom George trained Rock On Rocco looks the class act.

The six year old is having his first run over fences after last season being a smart hurdles horse, getting off the mark on his final outing at Huntingdon.

The six year old son of Shirocco has shown glimpses of his short career that he could turn out to be a star and now stepping up the bigger obstacles makes him very interesting.

The first Listed event on the card is the Novices' Hurdle over two miles and the Paul Nicholls trained Fidelio Vallis looks the most likely winner if handling the quick conditions.

The five year old gelding looked smart on his final two outings last season winning both his events at Wincanton and over course and distance at Kempton.

His win in February got his career going beating 16 rivals at Wincanton and off the back of that he saw off better company at Kempton and he should improve this term.

A Class 3 Handicap Chase comes next over 2 miles 2 furlongs and the Phillip Hobbs trained Leapaway will be looking to back up his win last time out.

Having been hit and miss for the yard this term, he finally showed his credentials at Hexham in September when landing a Class 4 Novices' Chase over two miles.

The eight year old went on to beat the Rebecca Menzies trained Return Ticket by 12 lengths that day and that horse has since come out and franked the form by winning a Novices' Chase at Sedgefield by 13 lengths.

The feature race of the day is the Listed two miles Racing TV Hurdle and Verdana Blue for Nicky Henderson is the class angle.

The eight year old had suffered a slight setback which ruled her out for the end of the flat season with her supposed to have ran in the Cesarewitch, but with the good ground coming at Kempton she steps back over hurdles.

The mare was previously owned by Crimbourne Bloodstock but recently changed hands for £370,000, and is now owned by Michael Tabor’s wife, Doreen.

The mare has had an elusive career, as back in 2019 she managed to land the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton inflicting a first defeat in 12 on stablemate Buveur D’Air.

She also landed the Scottish Champion hurdle that year on her penultimate start before trying her hand on the flat when fourth in the Sagaro Stakes behind Dee Ex Bee who was second in the 2019 Ascot Gold Cup.

Since then she has predominantly been tried on the flat and this season she has been seen twice finishing a good second in the Ascot Stakes at the royal meeting and then last time out another bright third in the York Ebor Handicap.

The penultimate race of the day at Kempton is the Class 4 Handicap Chase over three miles and the horse that takes the eye is the Oliver Sherwood trained Handicap Chase.

The seven year old is lightly raced over the last two years only being seen three times over staying trips and he has one place and one win.

Last time out the son of Milan finished first past the post but got demoted to second in the stewards room, and still on a nice enough mark can go close again.

The final runner of the day for us comes in the class 4 Novice Hurdle over 2m5f and the Nicky Henderson trained Sunrise Ruby should have enough to see this field off.

The six year old mare ran to a good standard last year placing in four of her five events and then finally on her first start this term got off the mark at Newton Abbot.

She saw off a decent field of runners by 22 lengths and although pitching into better company should come on for that run and give another bold showing.