Racing Plus Chase: Take hint with Lee's course Choice for Hector's

Tipping / Adam Brookes / 23 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Richard Lee trains Hector's Choice.

"...perhaps the biggest danger to all is the steadily progressive Hector’s Choice..."

Timeform's Adam Brookes takes a look at the runners for Saturday's three-mile Racing Plus Chase at Kempton and puts forward a horse very likely to give you a good run for your money...

The first place to start is with Timeform top-rated Cannington Brook, who was a facile winner of his second heavy-ground Haydock handicap in two months when 35 lengths clear of only three other completers at the weekend. A 5 lb penalty means the Welsh National fifth is clearly well-in having been raised 15 lb by the BHA handicapper for that latest success but requesting another big performance just a week later on what is likely to prove completely different ground (no rain forecast for the Sunbury on Thames area between now and Saturday) could prove too big an ask.

Another likely to find conditions alien from what he's used to is Irish raider Seabass who, despite winning on good-to-soft at Leopardstown when taking his fifth consecutive handicap last time, has raced on heavy 10 times in a 13-race career under Rules (won points on soft and soft-to-heavy). Seabass does remain unexposed at the trip but finds himself running off a handicap mark 5 lb higher than his official rating (as he will do in the Grand National) and has a fair gap to bridge on Timeform figures.

One who's sure to relish going close to good is Nacarat, whose six course starts have all come at three miles, winning the RP Chase in 2009 as well as twice finishing placed in the same race subsequently, and running fourth (twice) and fifth in three consecutive King Georges. He's sure to give his best and is only 1 lb inferior to Cannington Brook on weight-adjusted ratings but his biggest stumbling block is that he's not only going to be taken on for the lead by that one but Sarando (lost his way), Fruity O'Rooney (makes mistakes) and Fiendish Flame (needs big step up) too.

Philip Hobbs is the winningmost trainer in the race during the last decade having saddled three winners and his Planet of Sound, who reportedly choked when a disappointing fifth in last year's King George on his only track start, returned with a career-best second to Carruthers in November's Hennessy Gold Cup having had a breathing operation in the interim. While he will be giving weight to the field, he races off the same BHA assessment as for that latest start on what will only be his third outing in a handicap (won 2009 Haldon Gold Cup on first occasion) and looks a major player.

Roguish old-timer Mount Oscar has an appealing course record having placed four times from five starts since a winning novice hurdle as a sprightly eight-year-old in 2007 and is from a yard who saddled an across-the-card five-timer on Saturday. However, while he is running off same official rating as when finding only the progressive Quinz a length and a quarter too good in the corresponding race last year, his latest return to form at Wincanton only helped illustrate that he is ultimately in the grip of the assessor.

The anticipation of decent ground means it's hard to recommend known mudlark Consigliere, while the form of the Nicholls yard (one winner in last 35 runners at time of writing) suggests it's even more difficult to give another chance to either the disappointing Royal Charm or the evidently-hard-to-train Michel le Bon (well held in Hennessy on first start for exactly two years).

Of the rest, track hurdle winner Deep Purple deserves a positive mention having put up a fine weight-carrying display at Sandown before Christmas but he's reportedly on target for a tilt at the Grand National so perhaps the biggest danger to all is the steadily progressive Hector's Choice. Richard Lee's eight-year-old has built up an admirably consistent record in valuable handicaps this season and looks sure to go well on his first try at three miles provided he doesn't get involved in any early scrimmaging for the lead. His jumping is a real asset and he looks most genuine.

As previously mentioned, Philip Hobbs has farmed the Racing Plus Chase in recent seasons and he has another prime candidate this time round in Grand National hopeful Planet of Sound, who is still lightly raced for a ten-year-old and is versatile with regards ground. However, while the current [6.0] on offer could look quite generous on Saturday morning, there is more mileage in the [10.0] about the likeable Hectors Choice making a successful first appearance at Kempton, a course that his shrewd handler interestingly hasn't sent a runner to in the last five seasons.

Recommendation
Back Hector's Choice @ [10.0] in the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton

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