Kempton Placepot: Paul Kealy's perm for a competitive Saturday card

The opening leg on Kempton's card (1.15) contains some smart types, but Encore Champs and Gunsight Ridge would be two of the most interesting runners even if they didn't need to win to justify Cheltenham entries. Neither will have a problem with drying ground and at least one should get us through.

Tamaroc Du Mathan is favourite for the next (1.50), but he didn't look like he stayed this trip over hurdles and his only Cheltenham entry is the Grand Annual, so Paul Nicholls must have doubts too.

This might put him straight for next month, but he can be taken on here with Ga Law and Coole Cody, who both have solid 2m4f form and like decent ground.

Tritonic will have learned plenty from his Ascot debut over hurdles and this quality Flat performer will be hard to kick out of the frame in leg three (2.25). Atholl Street has achieved the highest Racing Post Rating in the field without coming out of a canter so he should hit the first two in the other Graded novice event (3.00).

It is good to get two bankers early in the perm as the last two races are tough, although I do like the chances of The Butcher Said in the feature Close Brothers Handicap Chase (3.35).

It is a race that needs back-up, though, and former Kauto Star winner Slate House and Delire D'Estruval make more appeal to me than some of those at the head of the betting.

In the lucky last (4.10), course winner Captain Blackpearl has previously shown he is better than the effort he put in when trying to follow up at Doncaster last time. Also include No Hidden Charges, who is interestingly handicapped after a wind op.

Kempton Placepot perm

1.15
3 Encore Champs
10 Gunsight Ridge

1.50
1 Coole Cody
2 Ga Law

2.25
8 Tritonic

3.00
1 Atholl Street

3.35
8 Slate House
9 Delire D'Estruval
14 The Butcher Said

4.10
2 Captain Blackpearl
9 No Hidden Charges

2x2x1x1x3x2=24 lines

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