Paul Nicholls has a fine chance of landing a second Racing Plus Chase
All three of Saturday's SmartPlays come from the day's feature card at Kempton.
We start relatively early, with the opening handicap chase (13:30) over an extended two and a half miles. Filbert is the only last-time-out winner and is bound to be popular, but plenty of others are also in good form, arguably none more so than Milarrow. He's been placed on all three starts in handicap chases, beaten out of sight when runner-up to Rajdhani Express over C&D on Boxing Day but shaping a good deal better when eight lengths behind Politeo at Wincanton last time. That day Milarrow pressed on with eventual third Ballyallia Man, the pair ultimately paying for it as the winner stuck on by them. Milarrow comes into today's race off the same mark and, consistent through his career thus far, looks bound to give a good account.
SmartPlay number two comes in the big race of the day, the Racing Plus Chase at 15:50. As you'd imagine, this is a tough handicap to crack and we'd be lying if we said we had a sure thing with rivals such as Wyck Hill and Nacarat in attendance, but nevertheless we think Rolling Aces holds outstanding claims. He hasn't looked back since going chasing, finishing third in a hot maiden on debut before winning an extraordinarily competitive handicap at the Hennessy meeting (runner-up Merry King was just touched off in the Tommy Whittle next time and the next three home won on their next starts) and recording a routine win at Wincanton since over a horse that would win from a BHA mark of 134 on his next outing. Winning a race like this off a BHA mark of 149 will be no small task: it's only 2 lb lower than Gloria Victis was when he won the corresponding race 13 years ago, but that same horse is one of a few novices to win the Racing Plus Chase already this century, so experience needn't necessarily be an issue for Rolling Aces.
Finally, we switch to hurdles and a competitive little handicap at 16:25. There are no less than three Timeform 'Horses In Focus' entered up among the 16 runners, but it's Katkeau who catches the eye most of all. He arrived in the Pipe yard from France over the summer and, on the face of it, hasn't really acclimatised as yet, but there are extenuating circumstances. On both occasions, Katkeau has looked set to play a much bigger hand in the finish before tactics or a blunder have seen to his chances, most recently over C&D on Boxing Day when a rapid move towards the end of the back straight took its toll and, to add insult to injury, he clattered two out. As well as the visual impression left, it should be noted that Katkeau has been very prominent in the betting for both starts in Britain so far- as we saw demonstrated yesterday with Ballynagour, when the Pipe yard put their faith in one to such a strong degree it usually pays to take notice.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Kempton
Back Milarrow @ 5.14/1 in the 13:30
Back Rolling Aces @ 5.24/1 in the 15:50
Back Katkeau @ 3.3512/5 in the 16:25
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