Big-Race Perspective: The Racing Post Chase at Kempton

Features / Timeform / 01 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Razor Royale gets the better of Nacarat

A competitive renewal of this valuable handicap, on paper at least, though the early departure of one of the market leaders and the poor effort of another meant it didn't take so much winning as seemed likely. The first two nevertheless deserve credit for finishing so far clear in a race run at a sound pace, the runner-up another to boost the form of the King George.

"RAZOR ROYALE showed he can run to his best away from Cheltenham, again making a few mistakes but even a serious one at the last, when two lengths up, wasn't enough to halt his progress."

RAZOR ROYALE showed he can run to his best away from Cheltenham, again making a few mistakes but even a serious one at the last, when two lengths up, wasn't enough to halt his progress. He's being aimed at the Grand National and will look on an attractive mark after this, though his jumping is the obvious concern.

NACARAT confirmed the impression created in the King George, putting up a top-class performance and paying quite a compliment to Kauto Star in the process, again showing his effectiveness on this track, going well when hitting four out and held in second when given another chance at the last, just unable to take advantage. He's not entered at Cheltenham but in this sort of form he will surely be a far stronger contender in his chosen engagement at Aintree than he was in the Melling Chase last season.

LE BURF did well to survive a bad mistake at the thirteenth and just plugged on for a remote third, adding to his solid record at the track while doing nothing to suggest he's up to winning a race of this quality from his current mark.

MADISON DU BERLAISwent enthusiastically through the early stages with blinkers replacing his usual cheekpieces but was again laboured for much of the race, and despite his King George second he's just not looked the same horse this season as last.

PRIVATE BE is getting a bit long in the tooth to be finally trying 3m, even on an easy track, and though he was beaten too far out to say that was the sole reason for his defeat it was a factor in his weakening in the closing stages after holding
a clear third three out.

OLLIE MAGERN is of limited interest at present.

SOMETHING WELLS failed to build at all on Ascot, though he was soon left with plenty to do, also spared a hard race once it was obvious he wasn't going to take a hand. His record at Cheltenham means he shouldn't be discounted if he turns up in the Plate again next month.

KILCREA CASTLE looked far removed from the horse he'd been at Ascot, travelling with nothing like the same fluency. He's reportedly set to miss the spring Festivals after this.

PIRAYA faced a markedly stiffer task than at Warwick under a 5 lb penalty but ran poorly even so, beaten well before stamina became an issue.

FISTRAL BEACH unseated at the second.

ATOUCHBETWEENACARA, whose stay at Tim Vaughan's proved short-lived, won the battle for the lead only to lose his chance with a bad mistake at the eleventh.

BIBLE LORD found this too much of a test of stamina.

OEDIPE ran an even more lazy race than on his reappearance and his attitude looks a concern these days.