I’M mad about the ‘boy’ – KEMBOY – in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.15) as the Dublin Racing Festival roars into action at Leopardstown.
Willie Mullins’ ten-year-old has a superb record at the Foxrock course – he has yet to finish out of the frame in six attempts over fences at the track, twice collecting at the top level.
The latter victory came in this race 12 months ago, in which Kemboy made all the running to defeat The Storyteller by a couple of lengths.
Three subsequent defeats saw Paul Townend’s mount go off at 11-1 for the Grade 1 Savills Chase over course and distance in December, but Kemboy ran a cracker to finish a close third behind Galvin and A Plus Tard.
That pair are the top two in the ante-post lists for next-month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and Kemboy can put his course knowledge to good use for another big race win.
L’HOMME PRESSE is the man to follow in the Grade 1 Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (2.20) at Sandown Park.
Venetia Williams’ seven-year-old steps up to the top level with an unbeaten record over fences, having collected at Exeter, Ascot and Cheltenham this winter.
Having started the ball rolling with a six-length margin from Gunsight Ridge in Devon on December 3, Charlie Deutsch’s mount followed up by 13 lengths at the Queen's racecourse 15 days later.
The Grade 2 Paddy Power Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day put L’Homme Presse’s credentials for the National Hunt Festival to the test.
And my selection passed the examination with distinction, jumping with panache en route to an all-the-way 10-length humbling of The Glancing Queen.
Williams told the betting public of her horse’s need for cut in the ground, so 5mm of rain in Esher yesterday is just what the doctor ordered.
Williams and Deutsch can leave Sandown with an ITV double, initiated by FRERO BANBOU in the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (1.15).
The Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (2.55) looks wide open, but JESUITIQUE looks capable of giving another good account.
The bad news is that Dr Richard Newland’s French native casts his nets in choppier waters after landing three of his four outings since crossing the English Channel.
But, on the positive side, the seven-year-old - previously successful at Worcester and Sandown - hinted at plenty more to come when beating Tokyo Getaway by five and a half lengths at Haydock Park a week before Christmas.
He was pulled out of Doncaster's Sky Bet Chase last Saturday on account of drying terrain, but KAPCORSE is worthy of support in the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (3.30).
It's evident the Paul Nicholls trainee is as fragile as he is talented - the nine-year-old has been limited to 11 outings over obstacles - but a British Horseracing Authority handicap mark of 139 doesn't look out of reach after a decisive triumph at Newbury in November.
Guard Your Dreams beat SONG FOR SOMEONE in Cheltenham's International Hurdle in December. A 6lb swing for half-a-length should trigger a turnaround in the Listed Virgin Bet Contenders Hurdle (1.50).
At Leopardstown, FIL DOR looks a worthy market leader for the Grade 1 Racing TV "12 Euros Per Month This Weekend Only" Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.35).
Doctor Dino's son boasts an unbeaten record after victories at Down Royal, Fairyhouse and Leopardstown and there will be long faces among his connections if Davy Russell's partner fails to book his place in the line-up for next month's Triumph Hurdle.
AHOY SENOR can regain the winning thread against three opponents for Wetherby's Grade 2 William Hill Towton Novices' Chase (2.30).
HIGHLAND HUNTER is fancied to give weight to his rivals in the bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase (3.45) at Musselburgh.
At the other end of the handicap, SOCIALIST AGENDA is poised to profit from the amount he receives in the bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle (2.40).
Unbeaten in three starts in bumpers, Laura Morgan's son of Sir Percy came good at his third try over hurdles when landing the odds in a novice event at Catterick Bridge on New Year’s Day - and still has untapped potential to draw upon.
VALADOM is the bet365 Auld Yin Conditional Jockeys' Veterans' Handicap Chase (2.50) pick, with drying ground in the teenager’s favour.
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