2.25pm Nicholls has 16-1 winner!
Chris Cook reports: Escort'men didn't have much form in the book - a fifth at Autueil and a first-flight exit at Taunton - but he could hardly have been an easier or more impressive winner of the Dovecote Hurdle. Left clear by the last-flight fall of Vino Griego, he hacked up with his head in his chest.
Paul Nicholls said the horse tends to make too much use of himself at home. The idea today was to teach him to settle behind a strong pace. Escort'men did that and it allowed him to show what a talent he is. He will skip Cheltenham, may show up at Aintree but will be seen at his best over fences, the job he was bought for.
1.45pm Henderson gets good news for Champion, for a change
Chris Cook reports: Nicky Henderson was wreathed in smiles in the winner's enclosure here at Kempton after Punjabi appeared to enjoy himself in the opener, getting an easy victory in his final prep for the Champion Hurdle on March 16. Henderson had a hard time of it last week, with Binocular's muscle problem bringing an end to his season and Zaynar getting beaten at Kelso, so he was due a change of luck.
"He's had a thoroughly nice time and I know it's not everybody's cup of tea watching 1-6 shots but, as you well know, they can be 1-14 and get beat," said Henderson, referring to Zaynar's defeat.
Most firms have elected to leave Punjabi's odds unchanged for the Champion. I can't remember the last time I thought bookies were guilty of under-reacting, but this would be an example. He may have beaten nothing but Punjabi looked sharp, fit and full of himself. It was certainly a more encouraging prep than when he was well beaten at Wincanton last year before winning the Champion.
1.10pm Punjabi just champion in Cheltenham trial
Tony Paley reports: The 2009 Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi won his trial race at Kempton with the minimum of fuss – admittedly as the odds of 1-6 suggested he should.
The only anxious moment for jockey Barry Geraghty was when Treaty Flyer fell nearby but the pair cleared the prostate rival with elan and went on to win on the bridle. The winner was cut into 8-1 from 10's with Victor Chandler but punters interested in backing him to regain his crown can get 11-1 with both William Hill and Totesport.
Today's best bets, by Tony Paley
Kilcrea Castle (3.05), the subject of a big punt in midweek that resulted in his odds tumbling from 50-1 to 33-1 for the Grand National in April, can advertise his claims for the Aintree marathon with victory in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton Park this afternoon.
The selection is related to the 2003 National winner, Monty's Pass, and the abundant stamina in his pedigree suggests he will come into his own as he starts tackling longer trips. He travelled well for a long way on his first run for his new trainer, Emma Lavelle, at Ascot last time out and should improve for the outing and for being upped in distance. His excellent jumping will be an invaluable asset and the ex-Irish runner will not mind the soggy underfoot conditions.
Last year's winner, Nacarat, who has been trained specifically for a repeat win, is an obvious danger while Fistral Beach, lurking off bottom weight with Ruby Walsh on board, is also feared as his peerless rider is a past master at conserving a horse's stamina.
2.00 Kempton A number of potentially useful sorts here and difficult to be definitive but the underrated Gary Moore could send out the winner in the shape of Vino Griego, who is improving in ability and attitude with racing.
2.25 Chepstow The best thing to go for here might well be a cup of tea. This is low-grade action but something has to win and a chance is taken on Rudivale who might just click now she is dropped significantly in trip for a race where there seems sure to be plenty of pace.
2.30 Kempton A breathing operation appears to have worked the trick for The Nightingale whose Fontwell win reads well in this company.
3.30 Chepstow A wide-open heat but the event in which Hopeful Start finished runner-up at Ffos Las in January looked one to keep a note of and the winner, Sona Sasta, has franked the form since with victory at Huntingdon despite having been raised 10lb by the handicapper.
3.40 Kempton Mille Chief looks pretty short enough at the head of the betting for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham for what he has achieved, but he has more potential than the strict form choice Ultimate.
Horse sense
Nicky Henderson had four winners on last Saturday's Ascot card and could easily achieve something similar at Kempton this afternoon. The Lambourn trainer travels to Sunbury with a handful of well-fancied runners, though there is no bullishness behind Oedipe, his entry in the Racing Post Chase.
This is hardly the sort of card that would normally be used to educate a horse but Henderson has two runners making their debuts over hurdles. Both have shown plenty of promise at home.
Ghimaar (2.00), who is owned by the trainer, won three times on the Flat in Ireland when with Dermot Weld. He is expected to put up a good showing in the Dovecote, though the more obvious Salden Licht has been working well and will be hard to beat.
Soldatino (3.40) was a bit wild on his recent arrival at Seven Barrows, having raced on the Flat in France, but the application of ear plugs seems to have calmed him down and he has impressed in his schooling. A 66-1 chance for the Triumph, his gallops work seems to show that he is not far behind Super Kenny, who is 20-1.
Punjabi (1.00) will be at the front of Henderson's mind as he arrives at the track. The champion hurdler appears to have a penalty kick in the opener and connections are happy enough with his preparation, though there is concern that a slow pace may leave him vulnerable to something with a turn of foot.
At the other end of the card, Henderson may land the bumper with Morcambe (4.45). Named by the Queen in tribute to the comedian Eric, this five-year-old is thought readily capable of winning such a race on his debut, though Awesome Freddie is respected.
Looking ahead to Cheltenham, the horse of Henderson's that has got his staff most excited is Riverside Theatre, a 10-1 shot for the Arkle. Jimmy Nesbitt's chaser has been pleasing on the gallops.
David Pipe's Takamaru (5.10) was a beaten favourite on his debut at Wincanton this month but is thought capable of atonement in Chepstow's bumper.
The most interesting bet tomorrow may be Maraafeq (4.35) in the handicap hurdle at Fontwell. Venetia Williams's runner was badly hampered on his seasonal reappearance at the same course recently.
Seen and heard
Sometimes you can have too much information. Paul Roy, the British Horseracing Authority chairman, told this week's annual conference that he had completely forgotten his wedding anniversary the previous day, remembering only when his wife Susan gave him a book as a present. Apparently, Roy then sat up in bed reading it until the middle of the night. Roy also admitted that he had "never heard" of Jeremy Kyle, who was sitting in the front row of the audience. Perhaps the Roys need a little relationship therapy, Kyle-style. "My horse-obsessed husband isn't hot to trot", perhaps?
The Racing Research Flat Annual was published this week, along with the famous jockey ratings of its founder John Whitley, which analyse how horses perform for different riders and are as fascinating as ever. Hayley Turner in particular can be proud of her performance, having broken into Whitley's top three for the first time, despite having spent the first half of last year on the sidelines.
The National Association of Stable Staff signed up its 2,000th member on Wednesday and membership is now up 60% on the total that its unlamented predecessor, the Stable Lads Association, had achieved when the new body took over in late 2007. The news is timely, as NASS will be able to claim that it represents 25% of the workforce when it sits down to negotiate pay with the trainers' organisation in March.
