16:05 Kempton

Saturday 21 February 2026

All13:1013:4514:2515:0015:3516:0516:40

'Join Ladbrokes Bet 5 Get 30' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

5YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 4f 110y | 9 Runners | Turf

Etalon^t,p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 145

Responded well to a combination of cheekpieces and an attacking ride when landing the biggest pot of his career at Ascot in December. Ran at least as well from this mark when third there last month, headed only at the last after forcing pace and he should give another good account.

Form: 1-52913

Bad³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 144| CD

Hasn't always been a strong finisher but is a 3-time winner here across the past 12 months, including this race last season and over 18f on comeback. Ran on surprisingly well having come under pressure some way out when second of 9 at Ascot (21.1f, soft) last time and he's a player back at Kempton.

Form: P5-1542

Viroflay⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss Olive Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| CD

Useful hunter chaser for Olive Nicholls and has made a sound start re-united with this yard, building on a good second here in November when producing another fluent round of jumping to win a 7-runner handicap chase here (3m, good) 56 days ago. Respected from 4 lb higher.

Form: 212-221

Riskintheground^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR: 140| D

Landed valuable events at Ayr and Cheltenham last spring and proved game when resuming winning ways in a Newton Abbot intermediate event in October. Found out in top handicap company since and out of depth at Grade 2 level last time, so others preferred for all this is a more realistic task.

Form: 419604

Califet En Vol²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136| CD

Dual winner as a novice over hurdles, including a listed contest at Huntingdon. Hasn't yet kicked on as anticipated from an encouraging chase debut, merely matching previous form when fifth at Cheltenham (20.6f, soft) 28 days ago, but it's still early days for him in handicaps.

Form: 216-235

Loughderg Rocco¹¹⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 134| D

Looked a potentially smart novice chaser when beating Unexpected Party in impressive fashion in a 6-runner event at Leicester in December 2022 but absent since and can only be monitored having since left L J Morgan.

Form: 251721/

Es Perfecto^p⁷⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 131| CD

Won over C&D last term before doubling his tally for the year at Sandown. No impact in major handicaps at Cheltenham either start this term, though, and others make more appeal.

Form: 6415-P0

Javert Allen²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 128

Enthusiastic front-runner who took well to fences last season, winning twice over 2m, and he's advanced his form with runner-up finishes at Aintree and Newbury in November. Shaped well upped in trip when third at Cheltenham (20.6f, soft) 28 days ago and likely this track will suit even better.

Form: 125-423

Shakeyatailfeather¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| D

Resumed progress with a ready success in 5-runner contest at Kelso (17f, good) in October. By no means disgraced in a stronger Ascot handicap the following month but not in same form next time and presumably just having a pipe-opener when down the field at Huntingdon 2 weeks ago. Bit to find here.

Form: 351586

Forecasts

Bad (3/1), Etalon (7/2), Javert Allen (4/1), Califet En Vol (11/2), Viroflay (7/1), Loughderg Rocco (10/1), Es Perfecto (14/1), Shakeyatailfeather (20/1), Riskintheground (33/1)

JAVERT ALLEN isn't fully proven over this trip but his bold-jumping front-running style means he could well be very difficult to peg back if getting into a rhythm around here. He gets the verdict over last year's winner Bad, who confirmed himself as still in form despite running an atypical race at Ascot last time. Etalon has seemed to benefit for a change in equipment and tactics and is respected once again.