TimeformBlog

Timeform handicapper Gregg Taylor analyses the latest renewal of the top mid-season chase on Kempton's 'Super Saturday', as well as reflecting on the supporting Christmas Hurdle and an impressive victory for a novice hurdler at Warwick.

There were some doubts beforehand about the lack of depth to the King George, with the Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander a notable absentee and both Denman and Diamond Harry not considered for the race, for example. However, Long Run (c178) demonstrated a level of form well up to the standard of recent renewals and a time comparison with the three-mile handicap later on the card wholly supports this view. He'd impressed when winning the Feltham on his British debut last winter and returned to the same course and distance to show himself a top-class chaser with a most authoritative display. He may yet have more to offer, being only a six-year-old, and obviously has the ability to figure prominently in the Cheltenham Gold Cup , but his jumping will have to be much better than it was on his two previous visits to Prestbury Park.

His stable-companion Riverside Theatre (167) produced an improved effort stepped up to three miles for the first time and might have done even better without a significant mistake at the thirteenth, still going well at the time. He holds an entry in the Ryanair at the Festival and this performance suggests that he'll be a serious contender for that.

Much of the post-race aftermath understandably focused on Kauto Star (c165+), resulting in calls for his retirement from some quarters. However, there's a great tendency within the sport for people to let their opinions run away with them close to the event and a more reasoned judgement needs to be taken of the three-times Timeform Horse of The Year. The end of his four straight wins in this race undoubtedly did raise concerns about his competitiveness in top company. Yet, he seemed ill at ease beforehand and was subsequently reported to have bled, whilst further test have revealed him to be suffering from a minor infection. It will take a masterful piece of training from Paul Nicholls to bring him back to anything like his best for this year's Gold Cup, though it's worth stressing that he'd have place claims for that race even if judged on this season's form.

Nicky Henderson had already ensured that it was going to be a memorable day courtesy of Binocular's (168) success in the Christmas Hurdle. It looked a strong-renewal of the mid-season championship and the current Champion Hurdler put up easily the best performance in the race since Dato Star won in 1999/2000, getting close to his Cheltenham form with his reappearance behind him and impressing with his fast and efficient jumping. He's thrown down the gauntlet to the pretenders to his crown.

The progressive Overturn (162), who'd landed the Northumberland Plate on the Flat over the summer, matched the form of his Galway Hurdle win upped to the top level, jumping fluently in front. He'll presumably also head for the Champion now, though connections also have Peddlers Cross for that race and he'll be doing well to make the frame. Similar comments apply to Starluck (155) and for all he's a consistent sort who provides a valuable benchmark to the form, he just falls short at this grade, this his fourth successive Grade 1. Khyber Kim (163) has a good record fresh but was some way below the form that saw him win both the International and Aintree Hurdles last season, this track almost certainly not placing enough emphasis on stamina at this trip.

Court In Motion (h144p) now only has Cue Card above him in the list of Timeform Top Novice Hurdlers following a facile success in the Grade 2 novice at Warwick on the same afternoon. It was hard not to be impressed with the wide-margin victory of Emma Lavelle's gelding, despite a number of his rivals patently failing to cope with the testing conditions, and he'll head to Cheltenham a leading candidate for either the Baring Bingham or the Spa Hurdle. His strike rate of two from six thus far belies his ability, plenty of which is untapped, and he demonstrated better form here than that of his unbeaten Challow conqueror Backspin (h141p).

Neptune Equester (h117) has useful form to his name over fences, so there's no reason to imagine that he didn't approach that in being beaten twenty-one lengths on just his second start over timber. His hurdling technique still has some room for refinement, however.

For more great racing betting articles, go to http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/