Kempton's Saturday Preview - 12/01/2019

12:20 - Tiffin Top

The opening race from a busy day at Kempton is the Unibet Juvenile Hurdle, in which Tiffin Top can be the first of any of these to win a race under National Hunt rules.

He finished fourth on his first start for Alan King at Taunton before the turn of the year, having previously raced for John Gosden on the flat.

Would of definitely enhanced his hurdling knowledge that day, and surely the most likely of these to come on from that.

12:55 - Lomachenko

Lomachenko finally got the hang of things last time and now heads to Sunbury for the 32Red.com Novices' Hurdle.

This 4yo made it third time lucky for Nicky Henderson in the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, winning by six lengths in a Maiden at Leicester.

Still a couple of mistakes in his locker that day, and we are sure the Champion Trainer has corrected that at home.

Good chances.

13:30 - Casse Tete

Casse Tete has only ran once this season - back in November at Ascot, where he unseated Jamie Moore halfway round, and has a chance to redeem himself in the Unibet Download The App Handicap Chase.

Just the one win last campaign, coming at Warwick, and when on his best behaviour, he does look a horse with plenty of raw talent to show.

Needs to do that repeatedly, and gets the call in this.

14:05 - Charbel

In what looks a very competitive renewal of the Listed 32Red Casino Chase, we have chosen to side with Charbel.

Kim Bailey thought the time was right for her 8yo to step-up in trip permanently after a close effort at Perth was matched with a victory at Chepstow earlier on in the season.

He then went to finish second to Politologue in the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot over 2m5f, before a relentless display from the front in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon latest.

Strong credentials under optimum conditions.

14:40 - Kloud Gate & Erik Le Rouge

The feature race of the day is the Unibet Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle, and the field is rather large so we have selected both the favourite Kloud Gate and course specialist Erick Le Rouge.

Kloud Gate finished a long last in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket on the flat in October, but has responded with two wins over timber in December. He has shot up the weights, and is very well fancied.

Our second selection is a horse very much in form - Erick Le Rouge, who could very much handle the step-up to Listed company.

Chester Williams certainly caught the eye on this 4yo in the final race on the King George card at Kempton on Boxing Day, where he almost made all to win smartly.

He has also won at Warwick and Bangor by good margins and look set for a climb in the ratings with another solid performance here.

15:15 - Josses Hill

The veteran Josses Hill has sprung back to life, and will look to justify top weight in the penultimate race at Kempton - the Unibet Handicap Chase.

Now 11yo, Josses Hill ran a fairly positive comeback race at Huntingdon latest behind Charbel - proving he perhaps needs three miles nowadays.

Interesting alternative to the current co-favourites.

15:45 - Speed Company

The Lanzarote card closes with the Unibet Handicap Hurdle, and Speed Company is the selection for Ian Williams.

He has some solid form accumulated in the book, with plenty of placed efforts in major series qualifiers. No win since the summer of 2017, but surely a trip to the winners enclosure cannot be too far on the horizon.

Daryl Jacob rides.