Rigmarole on course for Kempton

Paul Nicholls today declared Rigmarole on target to bid for back-to-back victories in the RHT 40th Anniversary Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.

The gelding made the transition from handicapper to leading hurdler last season on the back of a campaign which saw him run throughout the summer months.

He has not raced since late April this time around, though, and the Ditcheat handler told At The Races: “He had a few runs before he hit top form last year and it could be a competitive race.

“But it’s no use having him in his box at home – he will run.”

It could be a busy weekend for Nicholls, who has Thisthatandtother, Kadarann and Le Duc engaged in the totesport Wigan Chase at Aintree on Sunday.

However, Nicholls indicated that the latter, third in the Irish Independent Arkle at Cheltenham last March, is the most likely runner at this stage.

“Thisthatandtother may not be quite ready – we have got three in the race and probably Le Duc would be the fittest of them all, but we are just going to sort that out during the week,” he said.