Kempton Saturday

2.10 Virgin Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 2m 2f

Asta La Pasta was beaten at odds-on last time at Musselburgh, but the combination of a first-time hood and a slight drop in trip at a track where he’s shown his best form should enable him to get back to winning ways. The selection is an enthusiastic sort who built up a big lead last time, but when Harry Skelton might have wanted to clacken the pace in order to fill his mount up, he was stymied by the clever riding of Harry Cobden on the winner, who moved up to the leader’s tail, keeping the revs up on Asta La Pasta and ensuring that he couldn’t get a breather.

Whether Tristan Durrell feels the need to lead here is debatable as there are two other potential pace angles in the race, and slightly more patient tactics were adopted when he split subsequent winners Leader In The Park and El Rio. He had First Street behind him that day and is taken to confirm form on slightly worse terms.

2.45 Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f

Josh The Boss could bounce back to form having not had his conditions at Haydock and Newbury the last twice, and his win at Chepstow in October is an undervalued piece of form. His Haydock run followed an excellent effort to win the competitive Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow in October and that form has worked out tremendously well. A heavy defeat in the William Hill Hurdle sees him put in here as an outsider, but the course and distance winner has plenty going for him back up in trip and, crucially, on ground he absolutely needs.

Josh The Boss was put up 7lb for winning by four lengths at Chepstow and while first impressions are that the handicapper has taken charge based on his Haydock defeat, the collateral form from Chepstow says different, and I’m happy to take another chance on the Twiston-Davies gelding with conditions more suitable here. A whole host of those who finished behind him at Chepstow have won since, and the way it has worked out suggests that his rise for winning isn’t enough to stop him from scoring from his revised mark, with the prospect of a soft lead increasing confidence further.

3.20 Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110y

Split stakes here, with a couple making appeal at double-digit odds. Sure Touch needs good ground, or even quicker, winning the Summer Plate at Market Rasen on good-to-firm ground from a mark of 137. He’s been readily held since but hinted at a revival when fourth here last time on unsuitably soft ground and he’s now just 1lb above his last winning mark.

Even better handicapped is Jetoile who completed a hat-trick over fences when landing the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last term off a mark of 146. He’s struggled to cope in high-class handicaps company subsequently, but again showed his turn was near with a good second at Newcastle last time over this trip. He’s able to race off 137 now and has the in-form Dylan Johnston in the saddle here. Trainer Ryan Potter landed the Eider Chase for connections recently and is now in better form than he has been all season.

Uttoxeter Saturday

1.50 Jenningsbet Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f 207y

Kahavari could be the answer on just his second start for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. Formerly with Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm in France, he ran really well to be second at Lyon Parilly on his final start there and while the winner hasn’t raced since, the third-placed horse has won his next three starts, including a handicap hurdle off a French mark equivalent to 125 on the BHA scale.

Kahavari was weak in the market and shaped like the run would bring him on when runner-up at Carlisle on his debut for new connections, and should do better for that, while his opening mark of 118 here could be lenient based on his French efforts.

2.25 Jenningsbet Handicap Hurdle 2m 7f 70y

The Dan Skelton modus operandi is familiar to most avid followers of the sport by now, and Joyeux Machin is another who has been nursed into a spot where he can bag a big handicap, and this looks the time to be with him. Having lost his way for Paul Nolan, Joyeux Machin has gradually refound his mojo for the Skeltons and was a big eye-catcher when placed in a handicap hurdle at Wetherby under the inexperienced Harry Atkins. He built on that promise despite finding 2m3f too sharp at Ascot last time, finishing second to course-specialist Altobelli. He will benefit from the step up in trip today and should take the world of beating from a mark that looks lenient on his best form.

3.00 Jenningsbet Midlands Grand National 4m 2f 8y

Knockanore was a revelation upped in trip in the Eider, running away from the in-form O’Connell to win by an eased-down sixteen lengths and a 10lb rise in the weights is probably more than workable.

A bigger question might be how much that took out of him, as this is only three weeks later, but that’s really the only question mark I have against him. He has a realistic chance of providing trainer Ryan Potter with a famous double across the cards.

Anglers Crag, a former Eider winner, caught the eye in the Edinburgh National, making a big move from the rear to hold every chance in the straight before weakening at the last. He could go well if not given as much to do, but preference is for Edinburgh National runner-up Bodhisattva.

I fancied Bodhisattva to run a big race in the Eider, but he raced on the inner without much daylight and it was hardly a surprise to see him unseat mid-race. Callum Pritchard is back in the saddle now and John McConnell’s gelding appears to have been written off on one moderate effort, which means we’re getting a big price for one that we know will stay and act on the ground.

Recommended

Josh The Boss 2.45 Kempton – 2pts win @ 16/1 (general)

Sure Touch 3.20 Kempton – 1pt win @ 12/1 (Bet365, Paddy Power)

Jetoile 3.20 Kempton – 1pt @ 10/1 (Bet365, Ladbrokes)

Kahavari 1.50 Uttoxeter – 1pt win @ 8/1 (general)

Joyeux Machin 2.25 Uttoxeter – 2pts win @ 9/2 (general)

Bodhisattva 3.00 Uttoxeter – 1pt e/w @ 33/1 (Bet365, 25/1 Hills 5 places)