Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Kempton

Leg 1 Selections: Scriptwriter, Rare Middleton 

SCRIPTWRITER won his first two hurdle starts, including a Grade Two at Cheltenham, and lost little in defeat behind Comfort Zone last time after a successful return to the Flat prior to that performance. 

His trainer Milton Harris won this twelve months ago with Knight Salute and this four-year-old, who is regarded as one of the leading British contenders for the Triumph Hurdle next month, is the one to beat. 

RARE MIDDLETON won on his hurdles debut at Taunton and whilst he’s in the deep water here, he has more to come and could emerge as the biggest danger.  

Leg 2 Selections: Boothill 

The Harry Fry-trained BOOTHILL has to shoulder a penalty but he is the best horse in the race and I think he will improve for the step up in trip. 

He did extremely well to overhaul front-runner Aucunrisque here two starts back in a Grade Two and the second has boosted the form since by winning the Betfair Hurdle. 

He has the best chase form and has winning course form, so while he has to concede weight to all rivals, his class can see him through in leg 2 before heading to Aintree in April. 

Leg 3 Selections: Frodon, Killer Kane, Saint Calvados

The Coral Trophy features in leg 3 and it would be some performance if FRODON can win off top-weight yet again. To be honest, I think he can, as he has by far the best form at the course given he won the Grade One 2020 King George over track and trip and was third in this season’s renewal. 

He won the Badger Beer on his return and is capable of beating these plus he is the clear highest rated at 161. I think it will take a huge performance from anything else to see him beaten. Additionally, he is the only Grade One winner in the field, which will count for plenty, with conditions to suit.

KILLER KANE will compete from out of the handicap but he is unbeaten in both starts over course-and-distance and was impressive in winning here last time. This is step up in grade but he will get a lovely lead into proceedings and has to be considered with more to come allied to his course form coupled with his low-weight. 

I will also add in Paul Nicholls other runner SAINT CALVADOS, who is capable of being competitive if he finally sees out the distance. 

Leg 4 Selections: Hansard, Postmark 

The Milton Harris-trained POSTMARK was a decent horse on the Flat and the way he quickened away last time at Newbury suggested he is well worth his place in the field. His jumping will need to be more smoother but he could be smart in this sphere and holds a better chance than his outside odds imply here. 

Of the rest, HANSARD has won both his hurdle starts in good style and his latest win when giving weight and a beating to Master Chewy was pretty impressive. The second has since ran well to finish sixth in the Betfair Hurdle, so Gary Moore’s charge is feared most. 

Leg 5 Selections: Scarpia, Ivaldi

Nicky Henderson’s SCARPIA ran a very nice race to finish third at Huntingdon and drops in grade from only a three-pounds higher mark. Whilst consistency hasn’t been his strongest point, he has room for manoeuvre off this mark and could easily make the frame being only five pounds higher than when he bolted up in January last year. 

IVALDI fell on his handicap debut over track and trip on Boxing Day and shaped very nicely at Ascot last time when fourth. He is in off the same mark here and his second to Scarface is a decent bit of form. With improvement on the cards, Paul Nicholls’ charge could be really competitive here in leg 5. 

Leg 6 Selections: Quick Draw, The Edgar Wallace

QUICK DRAW has a good record since the blinkers have been fitted with three wins from four starts and has subsequently landed back-to-back events, including when winning easily by seven lengths over track and trip last time. He has been hit with another rise in the weights but he’s the only horse in the field on a roll and could complete the hat-trick. 

THE EDGAR WALLACE was only fourth behind the former last time but Kim Bailey’s charge has dropped in the weights and he is four pounds below his last successful mark. David Bass is likely to ride him prominently and back on a sounder surface, he could be the back-up option should the former fail to take the spoils.