Coral Trophy Handicap Chase: Tips, Runners & Prediction for Kempton

Coral Trophy Handicap Chase Runners

The highlight of an excellent card at Kempton on Saturday is the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase over three-miles with £150,000 prize money at stake. Last year’s winner Cap Du Nord could be turned out quickly in a bid to defend his crown after winning at Ascot last weekend.

He could be joined by former winner of the race Clondaw Castle whilst Frodon and Saint Calvados add further dimension to what should be a cracker of a race. 

Frodon 

• Trainer: Paul Nicholls 
• Jockey: Bryony Frost 
• Form: 701335
• Odds: 10/1

 

This will be no easy task for top-weight Frodon but he has won three times at the course, including the 2020 King George and ran a solid race when third in year’s renewal.

He didn’t quite get home in the Cotswold Chase last time but that wouldn’t be the first time it has happened at Cheltenham despite being a former Ryanair Chase winner, plus he finished a creditable fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup back in 2021. 

Ideally, three-miles on a flat-track plays more to his strengths and his last start at this level saw him collect the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton on his seasonal reappearance when carrying top-weight.

The conditions this weekend will be perfect for him and whilst he is clearly vulnerable to younger legs, with less weight, he still commands plenty of respect at very fair odds given he’s a Grade 1 winner over course-and-distance. 

Saint Calvados 

• Trainer: Paul Nicholls 
• Jockey: Harry Cobden 
• Form: 3P5124
• Odds: 11/2

 

Saint Calvados was well-beaten in the Silviniaco Conti Chase last-time-out, but the last time the 10-year-old competed over three-miles, he finished third in the 2021 King George over course-and-distance.

In fact, his only two starts over this trip was in the King George and he finished fourth in the 2020 renewal as well behind stablemate Frodon. A repeat of either of those performances would be more than enough to see this multiple Grade 1-placed individual run a big race. 

He returned an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase at Sandown last April and it seems like his champion trainer has had this race in mind for this classy chaser. In addition, Harry Cobden is reunited with him for the first time since the pair teamed up to win at Sandown and the ground will suit.

A mark of 154, back in handicap company, is well within his compass given he was rated as high as 167 two years ago and his last win in a handicap was from a pound higher mark off top-weight. 

Clondaw Castle 

• Trainer: Tom George 
• Jockey: Johnny Burke 
• Form: 212342
• Odds: 10/1 

 

Tom George’s 11-year-old, Clondaw Castle, has raced sparingly since winning this race two years ago, which have all been in either Grade 1 or Grade 2 company, and he’s performed well in each of those.

He shaped with a lot of promise after a 420-day layoff when second in the Silviniaco Conti on his comeback last month despite proving no match for the race-fit and subsequent Clarence House Chase second, Pic D’Orhy, which reads well for this assignment. 

That latest return to action should have set him up nicely for this weekend’s race, as it should have blown away the cobwebs, plus he will get his favoured conditions as well. He is essentially back on the same mark (154) as when winning this by two-lengths two years ago and has a good partnership with Johnny Burke. If he does improve from his return, there’s a chance he could initiate another bold performance in this race with lots going for him. 

Killer Clown

• Trainer: Emma Lavelle 
• Jockey: Thomas Bellamy 
• Odds: 20/1
• Form: 1P1035

 

Killer Clown turned in a laboured effort when last of five at Newbury last-time-out and all of a sudden has questions to answer after previously shaping well on his return at Market Rasen when third. He won at this course last March over two-miles-four-furlongs but that was off a five pounds lower mark.

Based on recent evidence, he still looks a shade high in the weights plus he never won over this trip, though he’s only had the one start over the trip which proved inconclusive as it was on his actual first completed chase start. Either way, it’s hard to see him winning this weekend. 

Annsam

• Trainer: Evan Williams
• Jockey: Adam Wedge
• Odds: 7/2
• Form: P31861

 

Annsam never saw another rival over course-and-distance last time, as he jumped beautifully en route to society by 17 lengths. He has gone up only seven-pounds, which seems lenient, but we can’t forget how disappointing he was in this race twelve months ago when pulled up. 

He was unable to get an uncontested lead and is two-pounds higher mark this time around, so you feel as though another personal best would be required on top of his latest win and that looks unlikely in my opinion now raised in grade again from last time. 

I think he’s way too short in the betting and wouldn’t even appeal to me if 10/1 was on offer, let alone 7/2, which is a wildly absurd price. Moreover, there are much classier horses in the field who are at least double his odds and better value. 

Bobhopeornohope

• Trainer: Kim Bailey 
• Jockey: David Bass 
• Form: 131231
• Odds: 14/1

 

Kim Bailey’s Bobhopeornohope would probably prefer the ground to be softer to be seen to best effect but he’s a progressive chaser and loves to get into a battle. He showed great resilience to fend off Volcano at Ludlow last time but that form wouldn’t be good enough to win this race would it, surely? 

He has only been out of the frame once over fences and ran well on his return at Ascot but this race is a different kettle of fish and he won’t be granted a soft lead either, with other front-runners likely to take him on. He has his work cut out at this higher level and while he will probably finish in the first five or six, I think he will find one or two too good at the business end. 

Enrilo

• Trainer: Paul Nicholls 
• Jockey: Angus Cheleda 
• Form: FP4PFP
• Odds: 20/1

 

Paul Nicholls’ Enrilo was fourth in this last year off a higher mark but it is hard to warm to him this time around given his form has been poor in three starts since, in which he’s failed to finish in each of those. 

He is well-handicapped but miracles will be needed in order to see him back to his best. He can be passed over, though he is the sort of horse who will probably pop up with a decent pot when we least expect it. 

Our Power 

• Trainer: Sam Thomas
• Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies 
• Form: 1F1351
• Odds: 7/1

 

Our Power ran well when third in this last year and there was a lot to like about the way he won on his return at Ascot despite the form taking a few knocks. He is five pounds higher than his placed effort last year though, so more will be required. 

That is possible though, as he is an improving chaser with more to come and conditions will be ideal. His fifth in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival is a solid piece of form and he has an each-way chance once more. 

Flegmatik

• Trainer: Dan Skelton 
• Jockey: Harry Skelton 
• Odds: 16/1
• Form: 11P309

 

Flegmatik has won over track and trip but since his third at Ascot, his two recent runs have been poor. He remains five pounds above his last winning mark and it is hard to see him bouncing back to his best in such a deep race here. The eight-year-old has won two of his three starts at this course but has his work cut out this weekend and isn’t for me. 

Black Gerry 

• Trainer: Gary Moore
• Jockey: Jamie Moore 
• Odds: 25/1
• Form: 31211P 

 

Black Gerry made too many mistakes when he was ultimately well-beaten at Fontwell and needs to jump better if he has any chance of running well here. He was progressive over fences prior to that display though, and his Exeter success is decent as well. 

He could improve for the step up in distance but I would have liked to have seen him over the trip before to get to grips with how he might have or not benefited from it. He probably has more to come but this is a much tougher race then the one he failed to finish last time and he might be out of his depth. 

Jacamar 

• Trainer: Milton Harris 
• Jockey: Gavin Sheehan 
• Odds: 20/1
• Form: 249661

 

Jacamar capitalised on his reduced mark when winning at Leicester last time but all of his best form has been over the middle distance and I suspect this trip might stretch his stamina. He is a strong-traveller, who jumps well and will probably turn into the home-straight on the bridle.

However, I can’t see his stamina lasting over this trip having been found out over a slightly shorter distance at Newbury. He is only three-pounds higher than last time but given a lot of others have proven form over this distance, he is overlooked. 

Cap Du Nord 

• Trainer: Christian Williams 
• Jockey: Cian Quirke
• Odds: 4/1
• Form: 535021

 

Cap Du Nord took full advantage of a slide in the weights when comfortably scoring at Ascot last weekend and last year’s winner of this race has to be respected if turned out quickly here. He actually remains well-treated after that success, especially with his rider claiming five-pounds. 

Besides his win in this last season, Christian Williams’ charge has lots of other form at the course and elsewhere off higher marks, so there’s plenty of positives within his credentials. If he turns up in the same form, he is almost guaranteed to be in the frame but does he represent any great value? 

Killer Kane 

• Trainer: Joe Tizzard 
• Jockey: Brendan Powell
• Odds: 14/1
• Form: 136441 

 

Killer Kane would probably represent better value at this stage compared to last year’s winner. He loves this track, in which he has won two of his three starts and both wins were over course-and-distance. 

He won here in good style last time and while this race has more substance, he is still going in the right direction at the moment. This eight-year-old gets weight from nearly all of his rivals and should be suited to the pace of the race. He could go well. 

Coral Trophy Tips & Prediction 

A good field for this year’s renewal and with most bookmakers paying four places, I really like the chances of two runners, each-way, here. 

The first one is top-weight FRODON (best price 10/1), who I know has to carry 12st, but he is the best horse in the race and the fact that he is a Grade 1 winner over course-and-distance and Paul Nicholls has supplemented him, his price is too big to overlook here. 

He will get his favoured ground and his return effort in the Badger Beer when beating one my fancies for the Ultima at Cheltenham, Lord Accord, was a smart effort.

Clondaw Castle was interesting but this is a harder race than the one he won two years ago, whereas the former is the only multiple Grade 1 winner in the field and should have the measure of stablemate Saint Calvados, who hasn’t quite got home over this trip on his two previous attempts.

I am aware he might get taken on for the lead but the likes of Bobhopeornohope and Annsam shouldn’t have the class to go toe-to-toe with the 11-year-old, who will get most of these out of their comfort zone.

If he gets into his customary rhythm, I can really see Frodon running a hell of a race with plenty in his favour. I would be more than happy to back him at single-figure odds, so the double-digits on offer is more than appealing here. 

At the other end of the weights, KILLER KANE (best price 14/1) might be three pounds wrong but he is two-from-three at this course and unbeaten in both starts over course-and-distance. He took a while to master Jeremy’s Pass last time at this course but once he hit top gear, there was no way he was going to be denied, and a great leap at the final fence sealed the deal. 

This is clearly a step up in grade but he will get a lovely lead into proceedings and will relish conditions. With the four places widely on offer and his progressive profile taken into account, allied to his course form, he’s a standout each-way bet at the odds.