The 888sport Handicap Chase is the feature race on an excellent Kempton card and on which we are proud to be sponsoring six of the seven races.
888sport Chase Day has for many a year been one of the last informative horse race meetings to take place in Britain before the very imminent Cheltenham Festival.
Many of the results on Saturday will give us some final pointers towards the Festival, so it will be advisable to keep a close eye on all those Kempton proceedings.
History
Run over a distance of three miles, this Grade 3 was formerly known as the Racing Post Chase (1988-2011) and has had several sponsors since.
As well as giving us some Cheltenham betting clues, the race as often been used as a Grand National trial with both Rhyme 'n' Reason (1988) and Rough Quest (1996) going onto taste Aintree glory in the same season as they ran in this feature race.
Trends (Last 10 Renewals)
10/10 finished in the top five places on their last run.
10/10 winners had at least 3 previous runs over 3 miles or further.
9/10 winners have been rated 138 or higher.
9/10 winners were aged between 7 and 9.
0/10 favourites have won.
Runner-By-Runner Guide
Double Shuffle (Tom George)
Has had this race as his target for some time and his trainer Tom George has won this race twice before with Nacarat in 2009 and 2012.
The nine-year-old is a course specialist at Kempton, having won over the distance and also finishing second to Might Bite in the King George VI Chase in December 2017. He was also the runner-up in this race in 2017.
No reason why he shouldn’t go well at one of his favourite tracks.
Adrien Du Pont (Paul Nicholls)
Another course-and-distance winner and very much one to fear off a BHA rating of 151.
Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old worked his way nicely through the field to score by a comfortable 3½ lengths at Kempton over Christmas, and Harry Cobden is sure to adopt the same waiting tactics on him again here.
Top trainer, up and coming jockey, horse in form – what is there not to like about his chances?
Modus (Paul Nicholls)
Often let down by his jumping but he can turn in a great performance on a going day, as his seasonal return proved when he won a handicap at Cheltenham- just beating Duke Of Navan by a head.
Nine career wins to his name and a Lanzarote Hurdle win back in 2017 are results not to be sniffed at.
Will he or won’t he put it in? That is the question?
Rather Be (Nicky Henderson)
The eight-year-old was considered unlucky when he was brought down in the BetVictor Gold Cup but failed to make amends when he was the well-backed favourite in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, only able to muster fifth place.
Just touched off by Mister Whitaker in the Close Brother Novices' Handicap Chase at the Festival last year, Rather Be is on a recovery mission here.
Talkischeap (Alan King)
Consistency has been his strong suit this season and he was rewarded by winning a two-runner affair at Doncaster in January.
Holds an entry in the RSA Chase at the Festival and is clearly well regarded by his trainer.
Looks a certainty for the top three but in which slot will it be?
Catamaran Du Seuil (Dr Richard Newland)
Finished four lengths second to Calipto at Wincanton last time out, the form of which has been well and truly franked since.
The seven-year-old will be running with the aid of the blinkers again and has had a sizeable break since his last run. Jockey Charlie Hammond is the only claimer in the field and he takes a useful 5lbs off his back.
If he runs anywhere near to that Calipto race he must have a great each-way chance.
Romain De Semain (Paul Nicholls)
The seven-year-old has run some indifferent race this season but he is a much better horse on a decent surface and he will be getting just that on Saturday.
He won 4-runner event at Taunton last time by two lengths from Fox Appeal and is on a very handy mark in this race if he can utilise it.
With conditions ideal, now is the time for the gelding to fulfil some of his early potential.
Glen Rocco (Nick Gifford)
The eight-year-old has been in rude form this season, winning two of his five starts including a 23-length demolition of the field at Kempton last month.
A bold showing in this race will be the green light for taking up one of his many options at Cheltenham next month. Nick Gifford has entered him for four possible races including the National Hunt Chase, the RSA, the Ultima and the Kim Muir.
Up 13lb for his Kempton course-and-distance success, there is no reason why he shouldn’t defy it.
Didero Vallis (Venetia Williams)
Owner Lady Bolton will be hoping for more Saturday success this week after her Calipto, also trained by Venetia Williams, won last weekend.
Williams’ go-to-jockey Charlie Deutsch takes the ride and the signs are again positive for Didero Vallis after his last two performances. A brave win at Carlisle was followed up by a gutsy display at Haydock Park and a hat-trick of wins for the six-year-old is by no means a forlorn hope.
After shouldering 11st 12lb to victory last time out Didero Vallis should find this weight an absolute gift.
Walt (Neil Mulholland)
Walt just failed by the narrowest of margins to get the better of De Rasher Counter at Newbury but the pair of them were well clear of the others that day. Prior to that run, Walt was a runaway winner of a comptitive chase at Taunton.
The lack of runs over this distance is a worry for this eight-year-old son of King’s Theatre.
CONCLUSION
Not all Venetia Williams-trained runners need soft going to be seen at their best and her Didero Vallis can prove his versatility on any surface by taking this famous Kempton race.
888sport suggests: Didero Vallis (e/w).
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
