Kauto to star for Nicholls
Kauto Star can make a winning return over two miles by landing back-to-back renewals of the William Hill – Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.
Paul Nicholls’ charge will be tackling the minimum trip for the first time since falling in last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
However, he will be fit for action after two facile victories over longer distances already this season, culminating in his Betfair Chase romp at Haydock.
After proving conclusively that he stays two and a half miles with a win at Aintree, Kauto Star then showed just what he can do over three miles when cruising to a 17-length win at Haydock.
Kauto Star also showed he retains his extra gear when picking up after the last and even against some potentially top-class rivals, this six-year-old can once again assert his authority.
Kipsigis can land the williamhillpoker.com Handicap Hurdle.
Rated only 60 when last seen on the Flat, Lady Herries’ young gelding was a shock winner on his hurdling bow just over a year ago – producing a thoroughly professional performance to defeat 15 rivals over two and a half miles at Huntingdon.
Returning from a four-month break, he then proved that his debut success had been no fluke by winning a competitive-looking handicap over course and distance in March.
Carnage at the last flight saw his two closest rivals hit the deck that day, but nobody could say with any degree of certainty that Kipsigis would not have won.
His patient trainer can be relied upon to have him ready for his bid to complete a hat-trick and remain unbeaten over timber.
Punters are advised to keep some powder dry for the finale at Wetherby – the Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre Handicap Chase – as Tim Easterby’s Silver Knight is bidding to defend the title he won 12 months ago.
The eight-year-old cut little ice over an inadequate trip at Carlisle in mid-October, but produced a much better performance when enhancing his superb record over course and distance by finishing second three weeks ago.
That was his third placing in six such races at the West Yorkshire track and, as the other three ended in victory, it will be a brave bookmaker who lays Silver Knight to large amounts.
Areyoutalkingtome looks the solution to the Racing Post Handicap at Lingfield on Sunday.
Third in a course-and-distance maiden on his seasonal reappearance, Charlie Cyzer’s home-bred son of Singspiel spent most of the turf campaign tackling longer trips.
But the return to seven furlongs on Polytrack has resulted in two superb victories.
Raised only 3lb in the weights for the first of them, Areyoutalkingtome was understandably sent off the 4-1 favourite just over a fortnight ago and, after travelling smoothly tucked in behind the leaders, produced an excellent turn of foot to land the odds by half a length in a time almost two seconds faster than standard.
With the runner-up having since scored off a 3lb higher mark, the form of that race looks rock-solid, so the progressive colt is fancied to defy another 5lb and complete a stunning hat trick.
According To John bids to enhance his growing reputation by winning the Paris Pike Novices’ Chase at Kelso.
Four from four over hurdles last season, he made his debut over the larger obstacles at Carlisle three weeks ago and, after stalking pacesetter Royal Rosa throughout, readily took the leader’s measure from the last fence to win by three lengths and maintain his unbeaten record.
A big, imposing gelding who will almost certainly improve for that first outing since April, According To John will almost certainly be capable of holding his own in tougher company as he gains experience.
