/ Editor / 23 February 2007 /

Francois Doumen has an excellent record in Kempton's Adonis Hurdle (15:45) having won the contest three times in the past ten years, and he once again looks to have a lively contender in Parrain.

The four-year-old was quietly fancied and well supported in-play when finishing behind Poquelin on his British debut over course and distance in December and meets that rival on better terms here.

Having shown his best form in France on a testing surface, it is a case of the more rain the better for the gelding who may have got the better of his rival at Kempton given a more searching finish.

Poquelin traded well into double figures in-play due to his hard-pulling antics in the early stages of his Kempton win. A stronger pace should help him organise himself better here but the gelding needs to find some improvement to trouble his rivals.

Punjabi was an average performer on the flat but showed a liking for jumping when comprehensively beating a strong field at Ludlow on his only hurdle race to date. The form of the contest has worked out nicely and the race was run in a good time for the conditions.

A possible big-priced outsider some may want to consider is Lord Adonis who, as usual, may be doing his best work in the closing stages. Although he disappointed last time out, he is better judged on his effort behind the useful Katchit at Cheltenham on his penultimate start. Should some of the more fancied runners fail to run up to their best, the four-year-old might be able to steal a place and there may be value to be had in that market.

Pipe's best runner - Iznogoud?

There will be much interest in the performance of the handicap 'good thing' Lucifer Bleu in the Racing Post Chase (Kempton 15:10) but value seekers may want to check out the credentials of his stable mate Iznogoud.

The usually prominently ridden gelding has not only got a fine record at this track, where he has not finished out of the first three in five appearances, but the 11-year-old has also finished placed in this race in 2004 and 2005.

David Pipe's charge can race off a much lower weight than when picking up place prize money in those contests behind Farmer Jack and Marlborough and is 5lb lower than his latest winning mark.

The gelding has warmed up for this race with three runs over this trip and ran a solid race in defeat behind Alderburn last time out over course and distance and there appears no reason why he can't reverse that form at these weights.

The handicapper suggests Lucifer Bleu has an excellent chance and is officially over 20lb 'well-in'. The eight-year-old surprised connections when winning on his reappearance at Hereford in January when matched at huge odds on Betfair and followed up that win with another facile success at Wincanton last Saturday.

Well regarded by connection, the gelding deserves his place in the line-up and if showing the same improvement on what is a third appearance of the season, he should take all the beating.

However at his forecast short price, there may be many willing to take on this relatively inexperienced chaser against some tough and seasoned campaigners.

Henry Daly's pair Billyvoddan and Alderburn both produced excellent performances last time out with the former being lit up by first-time blinkers. Doubts about the ground (both prefer a quicker surface) raises a question mark about their ability to produce their best and both may be popular to lay in the win and place markets.

Limerick Boy has been laid out for this race since scoring in the mud at Haydock in December. Venetia Williams' gelding won his only chase start at this track and is deservedly one of the market leaders in the contest. Although sometimes let down by his jumping, the gelding is a class act when on song and it will be no surprise to still see him in contention as they round for home although, he does appear to b handicapped up to his best.

Il Duce to dictate matters

If Il Duce can be forgiven a poor showing last time out, the gelding looks to have an excellent chance in the Pendil Chase (Kempton 14:35).

Alan King's charge was pulled up in a valuable novice event at Warwick behind the useful Gungadu with his disappointment put down to the heavy ground.

The six-year-old had previously put in two cracking performances, despite some sketchy errors, at Aintree and Cheltenham (both run in good times for the conditions) before winning as he liked at Taunton.

Provided the ground does not become bottomless then the Robert Thornton-ridden gelding should give a good account of himself provided he gets into a nice rhythm from the start.

His chief rival appears to be Natal who has translated some useful hurdle form to the larger obstacles. Two wins at minor tracks came either side of two creditable efforts in better races at Cheltenham and Ascot. The main worry is that the ground was blamed for him failing to win twice at odds-on and should his price get too short here (and the ground too heavy), there may be many willing to take on Paul Nicholls' charge.

Ursis improved on previous form to land the Kingmaker at Wincanton last weekend for new connections. A fair hurdler for Jonjo O'Neil, the form of Saturday's race looks solid despite the small field and any improvement would see him going close. However, whether he can give weight away to the likes of Il Duce and Natal remains to be seen and he would have been a more viable candidate off level weights.

An interesting runner, and one to follow in the market possibly, is Paul Nicholls' apparent second string Good Spirit. The five-year-old will be receiving plenty of weight from his rivals and showed when winning his maiden chase at Stratford that he can jump well and there remains scope for improvement.

It is of note that he has come in for quiet support in the Arkle Chase market at Cheltenham and a good performance here should convince connections to let him take his chance.

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