Horse by horse guide to Kempton feature

ALLAHO

• Trainer: W P Mullins
• Form: 21111/1

Brilliant in recording back-to-back victories in the Ryanair Chase before missing the majority of last season following a setback. Reappearance win in the Clonmel Oil taught us nothing new and he ran around a stone below his peak Timeform figure but there’s a chance he can get back to it with that outing under his belt and they might not see which way he goes if he does.

BRAVEMANSGAME

• Trainer: P F Nicholls
• Form: 1123-22

Last year’s winner of the race and Paul Nicholls was making bullish noises earlier in the week ahead of this ‘home fixture’. The worry is he hasn’t been at his very best so far this campaign at Wetherby and Haydock and he’ll need to be right on his A Game to repel the Irish raiders.

FRODON

• Trainer: P F Nicholls
• Form: 33539-3

Won this in 2020 and fourth and third in the last two renewals but nothing in his recent form would suggest he’s about to roll back the years and bring the house down again on Boxing Day.

HEWICK

• Trainer: J J Hanlon
• Form: U1F1-40

Wonderful servant to connections and a fantastic story in himself but all the evidence points to him being in a tad too deep here.

SHISHKIN

• Trainer: N J Henderson
• Form: P/3121-R

You can certainly see the argument he’s overpriced but that’s factoring in his antics at Ascot last month when he refused to jump off in the 1965 Chase. Connections had hoped to give him a spin at Newcastle or Sandown before this but the weather intervened and no they’re reduced to removing the cheekpieces and crossing their fingers. Nicky Henderson had voiced concern about the King George start being positioned in a very similar spot to the one at Ascot too. That said If he does consent to go then he’s a big player.

THE REAL WHACKER

• Trainer: P Neville
• Form: 2/0111-P

Beat Gerri Colombe in game style to land the Brown Advisory at Cheltenam last March – his third successive victory of the campaign at Prestbury Park, a run that also included landing the Dipper. Pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his return but was struck into and returned lame. It’s good he’s here but others look more solid.

Conclusion

A fascinating renewal. All eyes at the start will be on Shishkin and his price on the exchanges will collapse if he faces the tape and jumps off with the others, but even if he does he might be forced to play a supporting role.

Bravemansgame has been the subject of glowing reports from his camp this week but needs to leave two slightly dull runs this term behind and if on-song ALLAHO could blow this apart.

True, the jury is out as to whether he can recapture his brilliant best after last season’s setback but Paul Townend’s decision to head over to England rather than convert a penalty a kick or two at Leopardstown speaks volumes.

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