Events / Geoffrey Riddle / 27 December 2009 /

Kauto Star stole the headlines on Saturday - who will come to the fore on Sunday at Kempton's Christmas meeting? Our man at the track, 'The Riddler' has all the answers. email him your questions on: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

3.45pm result:
1: Ronaldo Des Mottes
2: First Avenue
3: Know The Law
What a wonderful way to end the two days! I have just returned from the ring. I've trousered a significant sum on Ronaldo Des Mottes. Back of the net, as some might say. David Pipe's hurdler won with any amount in hand, and quite clearly needs to be going right handed.

It's been a great two days here everybody at the Christmas meeting. I hope you have enjoyed yourselves. Have a great 2009, and and I'll see you all on the other side for a new decade...

3.40pm
Has anyone noticed that the last time Ronaldo Des Mottes put in a decent performance was when he last raced right-handed? It was at Sandown in February, and although he finished second, the concession of weight and a quick reappearance meant he didn't quite have enough in the tank. He's been heavily backed, having been traded at [13.5], but is now as low as [7.6]. This is it folks, the lucky last!

3.30pm:
Things are getting murkier with regards to this Petit Robin affair. Apparently, Henderson thinks that two and a half miles is key to Petit Robin, but will aim him at the Aintree version and not the Ryanair. Henderson said: "I always thought Petit Robin wanted two and a half miles but there was always going to be plenty of pace and Barry gave him a beautiful ride.

"He produced him at the right time. He will of course have an entry in the Champion Chase but Barry and I think two and a half miles at Aintree in April will be ideal for him. The Ryanair at Cheltenham's probably not the right race for him."

Lord knows what's going on.

3.15 result:
1: Fortification
2: I'moncloudnine
3: Piraya
4: Au Courant
Fortification had won his last three races, and yet went off at a ridiculously large price due to the change of stable. Apparently it is on account of the fact that the stable lad moved. One small stakes punter managed to get £4 on at [44.0] in-running.

This is getting a little dull, I know, but you've got to keep going back to the well haven't you if Nicky Henderson keeps shooting in the winners. What can I do about it? Henderson let it slip that he is leaning towards the Ryanair Chase with Petit Robin. Hills now have chalked up 12-1 about the Seven Barrows inmate for the 2m5f Cheltenham contest. There is [29.0] available on Betfair for small stakes, but other than that there are slim pickings. Paddy Power don't want to quote for the Ryanair, reasoning that Henderson's Barbers Shop will run in that race and Petit Robin will go for the Champion Chase, which is the same stance taken by Skybet. Hmmmm.

2.40pm result:
1: Petit Robin
2: Well Chief
3: I'msingingtheblues
"There is something rather satisfying about laying a horse in-running that the public loves," writes in a smug Harry. Ok Harry. Well done at breaking people's hearts. Good on you. You should have seen the crowd screaming and shouting for Well Chief as he and Petit Robin matched stride for stride as they approached the final flight. At that point, Well Chief hit [1.31], and that was probably the moment when Harry stepped in and started to hoover up the odds.

It was a brave effort from Well Chief, and you'd imagine that he ran right up to the form of his second in the Champion Chase in March. Petit Robin must have improved, and will certainly come on for the run. He was slashed by Paddy Power for the Champion Chase from 25s into 8-1, although Hills offer up a more sober 14-1 from the same price. On Betfair you can get [17.0], although Master Minded is [2.88] with Tingle Creek winner Twist Magic at [12.5], and Forpaddythepasterer, last season's Arkle winner, at [10.0].

Fix The Rib ultimately paid for the agitation he showed in the parade ring by crumpling after he lost the lead, while Crack Away Jack didn't look totally comfortable, either.

2.35pm
Crack Away Jack didn't look too in love with the game in the paddock just now. He looked in fine physical shape, all shiny and muscle-toned, but his head was very low, and he was snorting all the way round. Fix the Rib must be very jumpy, because his lad had to keep whispering in his ear and patting his charge's neck. Lastly, Doctor David is an enormous beast. He looked like one of those chargers in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. He was truly frightening, but it does raise the possibility that he is difficult to get fit, which may explain his two duff runs this season. After this, he may be spot on.

2.20pm
"The time of Crack Away Jack's race at Sandown was 1.8seconds faster than the Tingle Creek," writes a very informed Joseph. "Crack Away finished second, but Emma Lavelle was pretty confident of beating Sommersby next time out. I think he's got the most scope for improvement, and looks a big price at double the odds of Petit Robin."

With Nicky Henderson cleaning up at this meeting once again, it's pretty clear why Petit Robin is now as short as [3.15] for this. The Champion Chase third was as big as [4.1] this morning, and has been well supported on the back of Henderson's success. I think we are beginning to get into lay territory here. If it dips below [3.0], I think I'm going in.

2.05pm result:
1: Strawberry
2: Love Of Tara
3: Quaspia
Barry Geraghty picked up the ride on Strawberry after My Petra defected, and what a ride it was. The Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old was always travelling well, and once Argento Luna and Amber Brook crashed out, there was really only going to be one winner. For those of you who have a compassionate bone in your body, the riders and horses who fell are fine.

Be warned about backing Riverside Theatre for Cheltenham just now. Nicky Henderson's five-year-old won the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase earlier, but Henderson was quick to point out that his charge is better fresh. "He goes very well after a lay-off," said Henderson. "I'll be looking for a nice little trial and hope that we scare everybody off. We'll jump round and then go to Cheltenham. I wouldn't mind though if he went straight there."

1.55pm
Francois Doumen is not here this afternoon. He couldn't make it over La Manche, so be wary of Quaspia's chances in this next hurdle. Jonathan, one of his assistants, did relay, however, that Kasbah Bliss is likely to go to the Dubai Sheema Classic at the World Cup meeting after his exploits in Hong Kong. Kasbah finished third in the Hong Kong Vase, and the odds about him making a place were apparently 10-1 in the pool betting over there. Not bad for a World Hurdle runner-up!

Trainer Richard Phillips reckoned that the going, which has dried up a little bit because of the strong cross wind from behind the stands, is a bit too tacky for his charge, Giovanna.

1.30pm result:
1: Riverside Theatre
2: El Dancer
El Dancer's best form has been at tight tracks, but he couldn't live with Riverside Theatre there. The forecast was easy prey, too, although the liquidity on Betfair was minimal.

Robert Thornton, jockey of Mille Chief, wasn't overly impressed by his charge, either. "It was an alright race," mused Thornton. "He needed persuading to pop the last, and we were entitled to win that with our weight." Thornton sheepishly admitted that he had never ridden Mille Chief at work, but had schooled him often. "He's very willing in the schooling ring," he continued. "He's very keen. It's good that he learned some more here today. He's an exciting prospect."

1.27pm:
The money floods in for El Dancer on course, and the main market rival to Riverside Theatre is down to 7-2 from an opening show of 5-1.

1.23pm
Alan King was sporting some very fine braces. I don't mean the implement to hold up trousers, but the one that holds back teeth. They were very understated, much like his trainer. Anyway, King wants to keep Mille Chief to 'tight tracks' for the moment, and is initially thinking of coming back here for the Novices Hurdle on the Racing Post Chase card. King likened the winner to his Penzance, who also raced in that Kempton contest in 2005, and who subsequently went to Cheltenham to taste Triumph Hurdle glory a month later.

The layers were not too impressed, especially given the weight differential, and most firms remained unchanged. That is, apart from one sensationalist firm, who went 8-1 from 10-1. Answers on an e-mail for which firm you think it was.

1pm result:
1:Mille Chief
2:Westlin' Winds
3: Mymateeric
Westlin' Winds was pronounced as the best turned out, but beauty was not enough as Mille Chief pulled out all the stops to deny the top-weight. There was an 9lbs weight differential between the two, and it seems that the winner lost an off-fore plate in the process.

In-running punters had a great time in that race as Westlin' Winds was a confirmed front-runner, while Mille Chief was always a stalker. Layers got Westlin' Winds chinned at as low as [1.51], while backers managed to get on at odds-against.

Kate Miller, the William Hill PR representative, has been doing a sterling effort representing the sponsors doing talk after talk for racegoers today. She stuck to her guns throughout, tipping the same horses speech by speech. "You've got a lot to learn," said one wag. "You want to be a hero in one little corner of this racecourse at some point today." The life of a tipster, eh?

12.50pm
Westlin' Winds looks an absolute picture. He looks an intelligent animal, too. You can see it in his eyes. In contrast, Mille Chief was stalking around the paddock on his toes, and was covered up with his blanket. Purely on looks, there's no contest really, and Westlin' Winds wouldn't be [3.1] if those odds were to win this as a beauty contest. Of the outsiders, Freedom Fire looked incredible, an imposing dark son of Alhaarth, who thought he owned the place. at [2.5] a place, though, it doesn't look the greatest giveaway.

12.35pm
No-one seems to know whether Francois Doumen is here today. The French maestro has one runner in Britain today, and it's here in the 2.05pm. It's called Quaspia. He didn't have a runner here yesterday, but he has three entered at Newbury in two day's time. Doumen's travelling head lad signed the declaration this morning, so we are still none the wiser. The mare is trading at [6.8] having been matched at something like [15.0] before My Petra, Daurica and Zahra's Place were taken out.

12.25pm
I've just been told off by Martin Pipe. The former champion trainer was discussing the chances of Well Chief in the Wayward Lad Chase. I ventured that perhaps Mahogany Blaze had a chance, which he didn't seem too impressed about. "How much are we giving him?" Pipe asked me. "Six pounds," I shot back, impressed that I knew. "For how many lengths beating," he replied. "Er...I don't know." Pipe laughed. "You've got to know these things," he said. "It's important you know the form backwards. That way you can make the right decisions at the right times." It's all very well for him. He's got the brain of a 15-times champion trainer. I, in all likelihood, do not. Pipe still gets up at 6am. I don't. Perhaps I should.

For the record, Well Chief finished 25 lengths ahead of Mahogany Blaze last time in the Tingle Creek, and a length and three quarters at Cheltenham in the Connaght Chase.

"I think Well Chief will improve for that Sandown run," continued Pipe. "It probably came a bit too quick for him after his performance at Cheltenham." I didn't have the wherewithal to point out that the period between Well Chief's run at Cheltenham and Sandown was 20 days. His lay-off between the Tingle Creek and today is 22 days. How crucial are those two extra days Mr Pipe?

11.45am
I've been keeping an eye on the cricket with Ed Hawkins' cricket blog elsewhere on this site. I am a bit disturbed by his Christmas Challenge though. Does he really still have pigs in blankets lying around in the fridge. Urrgh. Sure, mince pies, chocolates and cheese abound are still hanging around in the Riddle household, but pigs in blankets? All that white fat adhering to them. No thanks! Perhaps that's why you've got to down one whenever there is a wicket, as a punishment. Strange how people don't play eating games as much as drinking games, isn't it? I know that after downing eight chicken burritos I'd have to chuck down a back alley somewhere. What's the difference?

11.35am
Racing, and National Hunt racing in particular, has an ephemeral nature to it. With all roads leading to Cheltenham and the constant workload required to unearth winners, it is easy to forget those landmark equine performances as you bury your head in to the form guide once again. Not today. As I wandered into the Kempton press room this morning, and sat with a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon, Kauto Star's historic fourth King George was being played on repeat. Watching the replay, without the pressures of work or invested coin, it is breathtaking to see how easily the champ did it here yesterday. He cruises up to long-time pacemaker Nacarat and just glides past before the fourth last. And when Ruby Walsh demanded a pop at the final flight, it was almost as if he was in the schooling paddock, it was that easy.

You've got to give it to the Racing Post for their commemorative edition, although like William Hill's merchandise tent here yesterday, you would imagine a lot of time and effort would have gone to waste had the champ failed in his historic bid yesterday. I'm sure there are a few cynics out there on the Betfair forum who would be thinking, "shame" right now...

11.25am
Good morning and welcome to a beautiful winter's day at Kempton Park. All the debris from yesterday's meeting has been cleared up and we are afforded a fresh start at Sunbury on Thames. Riverside Theatre is the star turn in today's Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices Chase at 1.30pm. His deeply impressive performance at the Hennessy meeting has struck a chord with punters this morning, who have driven the favourite's price down to [1.52], from an opening [1.6]. If you don't watch light entertainment, then you'll have no idea who Jimmy Nesbitt is, but the Cold Feet star is the owner of Riverside Theatre, hence the name, and there will be women here of a certain calibre out to bag a chat with the rakish Irishman. They may have to get in line, because at Newbury he was accosted by members of the media and punters desperate to chat with him. It's amazing what a yellow pages ad or two will do for peoples' profile, isn't it?

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