18:30 Kempton – Verdana Blue (14/1 Champion Hurdle), 4/11 today

Beating Champion Hurdle favourite Buveur D’Air in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day, this highly-rated hurdler switches back to the flat for a preparation run ahead of next month’s festival.  Nicky Henderson’s mare was second over C&D before Christmas and will be stretching her legs today before taking on the Champion Hurdle, for which she is as short as 8/1 in places.

18:30 Kempton – Gumball (33/1 County Hurdle), 6/1 today

Philip Hobbs’ five-year-old started very promisingly over hurdles last season but disappointed at Cheltenham, looking well beaten before being pulled up in the Triumph Hurdle. If able to show enough pace to stay in touch with Verdana Blue today with Oisin Murphy aboard, Gumball would head into the County Hurdle with a solid run under his belt.