Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday January 11

Selection one comes in the re-arranged Tolworth Hurdle (13:35). Trainer David Pipe has claimed that he'd have preferred the race to be run at Sandown, its home venue, rather than Kempton for the sake of his charge The Liquidator. That may well be true, though as a top bumper performer last season The Liquidator is surely better equipped than most to deal with a slightly greater emphasis on speed. There's also the chance of him getting to lead without much pressure being put on him. 

As un-Timeform as it might be to admit, it's the style rather than the substance that has marked The Liquidator out over hurdles so far. We know he's good, his bumper form tells us that, so to see him attack the obstacles like he did at Cheltenham in November is highly encouraging. That fact that the bare form amounted to scarcely above the low-130s is a secondary concern. The Liquidator has potential as a two-miler far in advance of his rivals and should be a decisive favourite for the Tolworth.

There are a few in the following listed chase (14:10) that we'll expect to see at Cheltenham. It may surprise you to learn that the selection isn't among them, but those familiar with Captain Chris will soon twig. Right-handed tracks over two and a half to three miles are Captain Chris' domain and it bears repeating just how reliable he is under these conditions. There was just one blip on his record last season- at Cheltenham, naturally- and his return in the Peterborough Chase was more than satisfactory. If able to come on for that as expected, Captain Chris ought to see off Champion Court (a neck ahead of him at Huntingdon) and, at the very least, force significant improvement from progressive Irish raider and current favourite Twinlight.

There are also a couple of big-field handicaps to get stuck into on Saturday. It's just too hard to pick the leading contenders apart in Kempton's Lanzarote Hurdle but Warwick's Classic Chase (15:35) does offer a bit more on that front. Plenty are respected, more still acknowledged as potential spoilers, one stands out. Boyfromnowhere already has a big staying handicap to his name for all his chasing career's only three starts old having taken the Southern National in November. He displayed stamina, tenacity and sound jumping that day, all attributes that will work in his favour for seasons to come, yet just as importantly for purposes of this race he showed just enough warrant a comparatively small rise of 4 lb. Having shown everything he needs to for this sort of test, Boyfromnowhere is the most likely to lay down a strong challenge.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back The Liquidator in the 13:35 Kempton
Back Captain Chris in the 14:10 Kempton
Back Boyfromnowhere in the 15:35 Warwick