Nicky Henderson: “He’s in great form and will like the ground”

Kempton Park

1:15

Punctuation (James Bowen)

He didn’t come in until November so is a reasonably new recruit to us having been with Fergal O’Brien and, before that,  Charlie Longston, but he boasts some very smart form and stayed well on the flat. I was happy with his first run at Doncaster in what was a very muddling race where they took out a lot of the hurdles, but that will have brought him on and we’re going up a bit in trip with him. He’s a good moving horse so shouldn’t have any issues with the ground and I fancy him to go quite well.

1:50

Bhaloo (Nico de Boinville)

He arrives here off the back of two disappointing runs, but they were over three miles, and it’s pretty clear he doesn’t stay that trip. This is obviously a very competitive race and he’s wrong at the weights with a couple of them, but if the ground stays dry, he could be thereabouts.

3:35

Hyland (Nico de Boinville)

I must admit, at the start of the season I didn’t think this chap would be our Grand National hope, but as it is, he has worked his way up the ladder and ran a fantastic race in the G1 Kauto Star over course and distance last time. This is, however, a different test altogether where he is taking on experienced chasers, and he has a lot of weight, but he’s in great form and will like the ground. This will be his sixth run over fences and if he is to be considered for Aintree, he’d need to run very well here.

4:10

Ideal Des Bordes (Nico de Boinville)

I was pleased with his effort under a big weight last time and he seems to have taken it well. The handicapper put him up after his latest run, and this is a better race, but he likes the track and goes on the ground.

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