32Red Kauto Star Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 6m 2.60s

Bags Groove^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 155| C| D

9/2

Unbeaten over fences since returning from a summer break (runner-up on chasing debut in May); bold front-runner who jumps well, so should theoretically be suited by Kempton but will face plenty of competition for the lead today.

Form: 10-2111

No Hassle Hoff²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| BF

50/1

136-rated hurdler who favours a soft racing surface; sketchy over his obstacles when beaten 15L by today's rival Red Indian at Ayr (2m5f+, heavy); comfortably out of his depth against these opponents.

Form: 9300-42

Red Indian²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ross Chapman| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 145

25/1

Reasonably able hurdler (1-8) for previous trainer Ben Pauling; won doing absolute handsprings on his chasing/stable debut at Ayr (2m5f+, heavy) in November - beating today's rival No Hassle Hoff by 15L; this Grade 1 race is considerably tougher.

Form: 33267-1

Santini²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| D

11/10

Beaten just once in five starts under rules (when finishing a close third in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham); the sky appears the limit over fences with his Grade 2 2m7f Newbury chase debut win handsomely franked by runner-up Rocky's Treasure.

Form: 1/1131-1

The Worlds End¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: T R George| OR: 155| D

6/1

Grade 1 winning hurdler (Sefton at Aintree); now 2-3 over fences after bossing his three rivals from the outset at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) 12 days ago; faces a sharp turnaround and competition for the lead; worthy of his place in the line-up.

Form: 474-131

Topofthegame^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 154| BF| D

5/1

Rock-solid in top handicap hurdles last season, including when finishing a neck second to Bleu Berry in the 2m5f Coral Cup (Cheltenham); had wind surgery in the summer; posted a fine chasing debut in the circumstances at Exeter (2m3f, soft).

Form: 2/F412-2

La Bague Au Roi²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 150| CD

8/1

A strapping mare who continues to do everything that is asked of her by her trainer Warren Greatrex; jumps well, stays well and displays immense courage in her races; 2-2 over fences after a 7L Grade 2 win at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft).

Form: 1177-11

Forecasts

Santini (11/10), Bags Groove (9/2), Topofthegame (5/1), The Worlds End (6/1), La Bague Au Roi (8/1), Red Indian (25/1), No Hassle Hoff (50/1)

A top-class novice contest in which there's no place for the faint-hearted with no shortage of pace in the line-up. With that firmly in mind, it's equally likely that any fencing deficiencies will be sorely exposed from an early stage so each of these horses will need to be at the very top of their game. La Bague Au Roi is an adorable mare who has the assistance of Richard Johnson in the saddle. Topofthegame is a maiden over fences (0-1) but remains fully unexposed post wind surgery whilst Bags Groove continues to go from strength to strength. However, the sky really is the limit for SANTINI with his impressive chasing debut win franked since by Rocky's Treasure.