25/02/17 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

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Best Win Bet:  3.00 Kempton Capitaine 2/1 & 4.45 Kempton Champ 5/4

Best EW Bet:  2.55 Fairyhouse Carrig Cathal 8/1 & 3.35 Kempton Triolo Dalene 16/1

Paul Nicholls

1.15 Kempton Rainy City 10/1

Has been off through the worst of the winter because he can't handle soft ground so will appreciate drier conditions here. Kempton is a nice place to start his spring campaign as he is better going right handed. He could run well, too, though it will not be easy giving weight all round. Rainy City is in the Pertemps Final but we will see how he goes here before we make any plans.

★★★☆☆

1.15 Kempton Coastal Tiep 7/1

Won a nice novice hurdle over this distance at this track and is another who has been waiting for better ground. Hopefully Coastal Tiep will perform well here and learn from getting in amongst experienced, streetwise handicapper before going on to win a couple more novice hurdles in the spring.

★★★★☆

2.25 Kempton Frodon 8/15

Has been a legend for us over fences this season, winning five times, most recently at Musselburgh where he jumped for fun out in front. He was mad fresh on Thursday morning, in great heart, bucking and squealing. At this stage two and half miles on good ground is ideal for him and that is what he gets at Kempton. Big chance.

★★★★★

3.00 Kempton Capitaine 2/1

A lovely prospect who found the heavy going a bit too much for him at Sandown last time when he chased home Finian's Oscar who is highly rated. I thought he did very well that day considering he didn't get the run of the race and made a mistake at the second last which cost him a few lengths. This ground will suit him a lot better before he goes to either Cheltenham or Aintree. I like him a lot.

★★★★★

3.35 Kempton Irish Saint 5/1

I've had this race in mind for a while for Irish Saint who won the Pendil Chase two years ago and ran a cracker last time when he didn't quite get home up the Sandown hill on seriously testing ground after travelling as well as anything to the Pond fence, three from the finish. He remains in good shape at home, is at his best on a flat track and should go close.

★★★★☆

3.40 Chepstow Red Hanrahan 14/1

Returned to action later than planned at Newbury a fortnight ago after a little setback before Christmas. He travelled nicely through that race before getting there a little bit too soon and then tiring late on. He is bound to improve for that outing, will be fine on the soft ground at Chepstow and a decent show here should be enough to qualify him for the Pertemps Final at Newbury. Good each-way chance.

★★★☆☆

Gordon Elliott

1.45 Fairyhouse Mengli Khan 10/1

He had a nice first run over hurdles where he finished a close second over this course and distance in January. He was favourite that day and though he was beat we were happy with the run as he really is a horse for next season. He is into a graded race here so he will need to improve to get involved but we're happy to have a crack with the prize money on offer. If he was placed, I would be delighted.

★★☆☆☆

1.45 Fairyhouse Dinaria Des Obeaux 5/4

The idea of running her here is to give us the option of running in the Fred Winter as she needs to have run three times to qualify for that. It's also a good Grade 3 race in its own right, with good prize money on offer so we're happy to take our chance in it.

We were really pleased with her run in the Spring Juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown the last day. She just made a mistake at the second last that stopped her a little and were it not far that she could have finished even closer to Mega Fortune. I don't think she would have to improve a lot more to win this race but we are hoping she will progress anyway as it is only her third ever start. We'll see what way she comes out of the race and then wait to see what weight she gets for the Fred Winter but at the moment I'd be leaning towards that race.

★★★★☆

2.20 Fairyhouse Pahaska 10/1

She ran well when she finished fourth in the same race Mengli Khan was second in over this course and distance. If she returned to that sort of form she'd have a big chance here off a nice weight in her first start in a handicap. However, the bottom line is that she has been disappointing on her last two runs and she is going to have to leave that form well behind her.

★★☆☆☆

2.55 Fairyhouse Jeannot De Nonant 14/1

In truth, he disappointed us on his first start for the stable at Leopardstown two weeks ago and he'll have to improve a lot to get back on track. We're claiming weight off him today through Cian Collins and we've also put cheekpieces on so hopefully that will help him run a little bit better.

★★☆☆☆

2.55 Fairyhouse Carrig Cathal 8/1

He fell just as he was beginning to make ground at Thurles on his last run and that was frustrating. I'd say he wouldn't have been far away from the winner Livelovelaugh and that horse won by 20 lengths in the end. Our lad is in good form and probably deserves a bit of luck now as he was brought down on his run before that as well. If he can get around this time, he'd have to have a decent chance of winning.

★★★★☆

3.30 Fairyhouse Roi Des Francs 9/2

To be honest we've been disappointed with him this season. His first run at Thurles behind Champagne Fever and Lord Windermere was really promising but since then he has failed to fire. He ran okay at Punchestown on his previous run so hopefully he can build on that. He has to give weight to the whole field here but the trip and ground will suit him well so we'd be hopeful of a good run. All being well after the race, we'll probably go back to Fairyhouse for the Irish Grand National.

★★★☆☆

3.40 Chepstow Jury Duty 4/1

We're bringing him over to Wales with the hope of getting him qualified for the Pertemps Final. In order to do that he has to finish in the first six and we're very hopeful he can do that at least as he has been in really good form this week. He won very nicely in what looked like a good handicap hurdle at Navan at the beginning of the season and he is a lightly-raced horse so there should be more to come.

★★★☆☆

5.10 Fairyhouse Empire Burleque 5/4

He dead-heated for first in a point-to-point at Ballindenisk in December and now he is ready for his first racecourse start. He goes well at home and he is a promising type. Whether he will be able to beat Willie Mullins's horse (Fulham Road) is another question but we're hopeful of a promising run and we'll take it from there.

★★★★☆

Richard Johnson

2.30 Chepstow Rock The Kasbah 2/1

Rock The Kasbah is the best horse we’ve got running this weekend and we’re just hoping he can get his season back on track. He won well at Chepstow on his reappearance.

★★★★☆

5.20 Chepstow Motueka 5/2

Another who looks to have a decent chance is Motueka in the bumper. He ran well here on his first start for us back in December and he certainly seems to have improved at home since then.

★★★★☆

Davy Russell

1.45 Fairyhouse Ex Patriot 13/2

Ex Patriot is my first ride of the day, in what looks like a pretty hot juvenile hurdle. He ran well behind Mega Fortune last time, stepping up from maiden company, and will have learnt plenty from it. I’d expect him to improve and he’s a nice horse, but this looks a very tough race with the likes of Landofhopeandglory in there. Dinaria Des Obeaux could also be a big danger off her light weight.

★★★☆☆

2.20 Fairyhouse Indy Island 5/1

I don’t know a great deal about her to be honest. She won a maiden at Down Royal last month, so at least we’re coming into this race in good form. It looks a pretty competitive race so I’m hopeful rather than confident.

★★★☆☆

2.55 Fairyhouse Presenting Percy 7/2

He’s a consistent sort, managing to get among the money in two valuable three-mile handicaps recently. He’s dropping back in trip on Saturday and he will need to put in a career best to get involved here, but he’s a young horse and could still be improving.

The Pertemps at Cheltenham would look like a logical target if he was to get in. Tomorrow will tell us more about where we’re going.

★★★☆☆

3.30 Fairyhouse Thunder And Roses 8/1

I haven’t ridden him for a few years, but he’s a very good horse on his day as he showed when winning the Irish National in 2015. It’s a very competitive race. Roi Des Francs and Pleasant Company both ran well in the Tyestes and they could be the two biggest dangers.

★★★☆☆

4.05 Fairyhouse Blackmail 5/2

The beginners chase is another open race where I ride Blackmail for Tony Martin. The ground has to be a slight worry, I’m sure he’d appreciate a better surface.

★★★☆☆

Dan Skelton

1.50 Kempton Bedrock 20/1

Bedrock is massively in at the deep end. He’ll get some experience from this race and then whatever happens he’ll still be a novice until November. He will run nicely but I can’t expect him to win a race like this on his first start. I hope he has a nice clear round and we learn something about him. If we finished placed that would be great; if we were to win then wow!

★☆☆☆☆

3.00 Kempton Captain Forez 5/1

Captain Forez has always been targeting this race since he ran at Ascot, whereas with Mister Universum we were just umming and ahhing; that’s just the way it’s worked out. Captain Forez has nice form with Capitaine. They meet each other on exactly the same terms on a track that is probably slightly more in favour of Capitaine. If this race was a round Newbury I would be quite bullish. Having said that our horse is an improving horse that we like an awful lot. I do think he will run very well.

★★★★☆

3.00 Kempton Mister Universum 16/1

Mister Universum should like the track and we’ve given him a little time since his debut at Newbury. Just like with Bedrock, if he doesn’t win then he stays a novice until November, and the same goes for Captain Forez. These horses are going in at the deep end but if they don’t win it’s not the end of the world at all. A bit of thought has gone into this. We’re not just throwing the darts at these races willy-nilly.

★★★☆☆

3.35 Kempton Three Musketeers 7/1

This horse has really got the hang of things in the last month. It’s his first try at three miles and I’m really looking forward to him running. Three miles on nice ground on a right handed track is exactly what he wants and there won’t be any excuses tomorrow. It’s a very competitive race, and there are a number of horses that haven’t held form for a while so could be well handicapped. There are also a few that are in good form that may still be progressing and it makes for an interesting race. Three Musketeers has won two Grade 2s for the yard and he deserves to win a big handicap. That would be great.

★★★★☆

4.45 Kempton Frankie Rapper 6/1

The same goes for Frankie Rapper, who is more of a long term prospect. You’ll see in the paddock he’s a big horse by Milan so the experience will do him good.

★★★☆☆

4.45 Kempton Diese Des Bieffes 7/1

Diese Des Bieffes is a very nice horse. Everyone has it to do against Champ in this race but we like our horse and it will tell us a bit about what we should do next

★★★☆☆

Nicky Henderson

1.15 Kempton Argante 6/1

will very much like the trip and the ground and won quite well at Fakenham last time but this is a much more competitive contest. That said, he’s a good, hardy sort of a horse who has been doing everything right and has a nice low weight so I expect him to be thereabouts.

★★★★☆

1.15 Kempton Alibi De Sivola 8/1

has his first run for us and has been away a long time with leg problems which has kept him off the track but he’s a lovely big horse who will one day make a great chaser. We’ve finally got there with him and I’ve been very pleased in the run up to this race and he’s ready for a run but will obviously benefit from the outing.

★★★☆☆

1.50 Kempton Charli Parcs 8/15

He wants good ground and the conditions at Kempton should be very good; it might even be on the faster side of good as it would have dried out plenty after all the wind that Doris blew on Thursday! He’s been around Kempton and was very good when he won over Christmas and he’s just got to be very good again here in what is a much more competitive heat but he’s in good form and is a horse we have always liked very much indeed. We all know what we are trying to achieve, whether it’s the Triumph or Supreme, I don’t know but we should have a better idea after this.

★★★★☆

1.50 Kempton Percy Street 25/1

Shouldn’t have got beaten at Sandown last weekend but it was clear he didn’t handle the ground so the better going here will be much more up his street (pun intended!) He does have to pull his socks up a bit and I’d like him to run well – which he can do – because I want him to get into the Fred Winter.

★★★☆☆

2.25 Kempton Gold Present 6/1

He was very impressive at Doncaster on his penultimate start but we had a hiccup last time when I thought he would win but for whatever reason things just didn’t happen. He’ll love the ground here though and is in great shape at home although he needs to bounce back. That said, he’s a talented horse who can go well, I have no doubt.

★★★★☆

3.00 Kempton River Wylde 7/2

He’s won his only two starts over hurdles and is another who has to have good ground, which he’s got here. This is a very big step up but it’s what you have got to do and we’ll see where we are at about seven minutes past three tomorrow!

★★★★☆

3.35 Kempton Cocktails At Dawn 14/1 & 3.35 Kempton Triolo Dalene 16/1

These two are totally ground dependent and we’ve been waiting for quite some time to get it, which we do now. The Grand National is what I was hoping for with both of them and Cocktails may just about scrape in but sadly Triolo won’t so he’s coming here instead. On their day these are two very capable horses and are working well, particularly Triolo and if I was asked to put a tenner on one or the other, it would probably be him, three miles around here suits him well.

★★★☆☆

4.10 Kempton Full Shift 7/2

He’s got winning form at the track which counts for plenty and I’ve put a set of cheek pieces on to help him too. He’s in good form at home and 2m4f around Kempton is just what he wants.

★★★★☆

4.45 Kempton Champ 5/4

I like this horse a lot. He won very easily at Southwell on his debut and we have to see what we’ve got with him now but it’s sometimes difficult to win these bumpers with a penalty, although I see Brendan Powell managed to do it with one of his at Ascot last week. Champ is quite lazy at home so I’m not sure how much he learnt from his first run but he looked to earn his penalty and let’s hope he lives up to his name!

★★★★★

David Pipe

2.45 Newcastle Gevrey Chambertin 25/1

We have just one runner today as Gevrey Chambertin takes his chance in the Eider Chase at Newcastle at 2.45pm.  It is a 4m 1/2f handicap chase with 18 runners - he has to shoulder top weight of 11-12 but he has earned that weight as he is capable of some very smart form at his best.  He ran a good race last time when runner-up at Kempton and if he can build on that, he could easily outrun his odds.  David won the race in 2008 with subsequent Grand National winner Comply Or Die...let's hope that he can add to that tally today!

★★★☆☆