Why this 14-1 shot could be well handicapped for Coral Trophy bid at Kempton

Mister Malarky
3.37 Kempton
1pt each-way at 14-1

The Coral Trophy Handicap Chase at Kempton on Saturday has traditionally been a challenging puzzle to solve. A favourite hasn't won the race since Gungadu in 2008, while plenty of this year's entries are unlikely to turn up.

Annsam and Phoenix Way have obvious chances at the head of the market but they have both gone up 6lb in the handicap since we last saw them and hardly represent good value.

One horse who is definitely well handicapped if he can produce his best is Mister Malarky. The former Grade 2 winner won this race off a mark of 147 in 2020 and was only beaten four lengths into third off 155 – plus Harry Kimber's 7lb allowance – last year.

He hasn't shone so far this season but it was only last year he won the Listed Silver Cup at Ascot off a mark of 150 and he rarely produces his best first time out, which explains a poor run at Chepstow in October.

He didn't run too badly when fifth in the London Gold Cup afterwards and was then taken off his feet on decent ground in the Ladbrokes Trophy, when he still plugged on to complete.

Mister Malarky: former winner must have a big chance in Saturday's feature handicap at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Since then he's joined the shrewd Richard Bandey, who is operating at a 29 per cent strike-rate, and it could be a change of scenery is exactly what he needed to reignite the spark.

Rain is forecast all week at Kempton, which would only make his life easier by putting an emphasis on stamina, and horses who have won this race before often run well in it again.

Nacarat won it twice, Opening Batsman was second in it three years after he won it, Bally Legend was placed after he won it, Theatre Guide was placed after he won it and Double Shuffle was second in it twice.

Mister Malarky has been dropped 12lb in just three starts. He was running at a time when the Tizzards weren't in anything like the form they are in now and will race here off just 142, 13lb lower than when third last year and 5lb lower than when winning the race.

He's still only a nine and has plenty in his favour so rates a decent each-way chance at 14-1.

Are we set for some McManus magic?

JP McManus always seems to have a strong hand in the Triumph Hurdle. Defi Du Seuil was his last winner of the race in 2017 but since then he's had Apple's Shakira, the ill-fated Sir Erec and the two-pronged attack of Cerberus and A Wave Of The Sea in 2020.

He didn't have a runner in the race last year and Icare Allen won't be good enough based on his performance behind Vauban at the Dublin Racing Festival, so it is interesting he seemingly has another bullet to fire.

I am of course talking about Merveillo, the Jonjo O'Neill-trained juvenile who could make his British debut in the Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (1.50) on Saturday.

His French form received a considerable boost on Friday too, as Manobo, who he had finished third to in the Listed Prix Turenne in October, bolted up in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy at Meydan.

Merveillo wore blinkers in France and looked one-paced when winning a 1m4f Listed race at Toulouse in June, but hopefully he can develop into a hurdler capable of joining the British charge in the Triumph.

The owner also has Iroko engaged, who I have my eye on for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at 33-1.

Oliver Greenall: trains smart type IrokoCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He was quietly eyecatching when fourth to Porticello in the Grade 1 Finale Hurdle, staying on under minimum pressure, and I think the strongly run handicap could suit him.

A mark of 124 isn't guaranteed to get him in, but a bold showing on Saturday could change that. It's interesting McManus has housed him with Oliver Greenall, and probably part of the reason why he has gone under the radar somewhat.

The other McManus-owned horse I am quietly interested in for the Cheltenham Festival is the 2020 Coral Cup winner Dame De Compagnie.

That victory came from a perch of 140 and she beat the following year's Mares' Hurdle winner Black Tears then.

Dame De Compagnie (white hat) could be a dark horse for the PertempsCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Things went downhill thereafter, but I thought she was running okay before falling in the Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase at Newbury in November.

Interestingly, Nicky Henderson managed to get her qualified for the Pertemps Final when she was a tailed-off sixth at Wincanton in November.

She clearly needs to show much more than she has been doing to be a contender, but the trainer reported she was on track for the race in a recent stable tour and she's now on a 1lb lower mark than when she ran away with the Coral Cup.

The owner has dual winner Sire Du Berlais and Sporting John engaged as well, but unlike that pair the mare is 33-1. She would make an interesting outsider were she to stand her ground closer to declaration time.

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