AL DANCER should thrive for the chance to tackle three miles for the first time in the Close Brothers Handicap Chase (3.35) at Kempton Park.
A high-class chaser in the novice ranks last season, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ grey reappeared with a victory at Newton Abbot in October.
Ridden by the trainer’s son Sam, Al Dancer was strong at the finish when third to all-the-way winner Coole Cody in the two-and-a-half-mile Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham the following month.
My selection had no luck in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at the home of jump racing four weeks later, losing all chance when hampered by a faller at the fifth fence.
The key to Al Dancer’s chance is the step up in distance - he runs as if the extra yardage will bring out further progress - and the eight-year-old is fancied to net the £42,713 first prize.
Saturday racing tips
KEMPTON PARK
1.15 ECCO
1.50 GA LAW
2.25 TRITONIC
3.00 ATHOLL STREET
3.35 AL DANCER (NB)
4.10 CAPTAIN BLACKPEARL
4.45 TAMGHO BORGET
NEWCASTLE
1.35 WETLANDS
2.10 DISCKO DES PLAGES
2.45 LADY TREMAINE
3.15 CROSSPARK
3.50 FRANSHAM
4.25 ASCOT DE BRUYERE (NAP)
5.00 INFINITI
LINGFIELD PARK
11.45 LUNA MAGIC
12.20 ORIENTAL ART
12.55 GROVE FERRY
1.25 AMASOVA
2.05 LORD RIDDIFORD
2.40 FATHER OF JAZZ
3.10 LUCKY’S DREAM
3.43 ALRICH BAY
CHELMSFORD
5.30 SUPERCONTANGO
6.00 BRUTE FORCE
6.30 EXCELLENT GEORGE
7.00 LADY QUICKSTEP
7.30 DISCOMATIC
8.00 KENTUCKY KINGDOM
8.30 HEADLEY GEORGE
FAIRYHOUSE
1.10 TEAHUPOO
1.45 JASON THE MILITANT
2.17 BREAKEVEN
2.52 BURROWS SAINT
3.25 CHOUNGAYA
4.00 THUNDEROSA
4.35 GREY HABIT
5.10 GLENGOULY
