Kemboy back in action and faces classy field of nine in the Savills Chase

Kemboy will get his first start of the season on Saturday after the seven-year-old was one of nine to stand their ground for the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

An impressive winner of two Grade 1s at Aintree and Punchestown at the end of last season, Kemboy returns to defend the crown he won 12 months ago after HRI-enforced sanctions banned the running of any horses owned by the now-defunct Supreme Racing Club.

The 6-4 favourite with bet365 will now run in the colours of the Brett Graham and Ken Sharp Syndicate.

Pat Kelly and Philip Reynolds will be hoping 2018 RSA Chase winner Presenting Percy can take another step forward after his pleasing return to action behind Min over an inadequate trip at Punchestown this month.

Three runners will carry the maroon and white of Gigginstown, with 2017 Savills winner Road To Respect and three-time Grade 1 scorer Delta Work both retaining their places in the €175,000 contest alongside Balko Des Flos.

Both Jett and Monalee were destroyed by an imperious Douvan on their reappearances at Clonmel in November and will need to show more at Leopardstown in what appears a contest deep with quality.

The field is completed by Anibale Fly and Bellshill.

Confirmed runners

Anibale Fly Tony Martin
Balko Des Flos Henry de Bromhead
Belshill Willie Mullins
Delta Work Gordon Elliott
Jett Mrs John Harrington
Kemboy Willie Mullins
Monalee Henry de Bromhead
Presenting Percy Pat Kelly
Road To Respect Noel Meade

Festival hope Thyme Hill takes on four in Newbury's Challow Novices' Hurdle

Philip Hobbs's Thyme Hill will face four rivals in Newbury's Betway Challow Novices' Hurdle as the top festival prospect seeks a first top-level success on Saturday.

Since his third in the Champion Bumper, he has developed into a excellent prospect over hurdles scoring at Grade 2 level at Chepstow and Cheltenham, and he now looks to strengthen his claims for the Cheltenham Festival. He is a 12-1 chance for the Ballymore and a general 8-1 favourite for the Albert Bartlett.

Newbury's Saturday card

Thyme Hill's biggest threat comes in the shape of Enrilo, a winner of Sandown's Winter Novices' Hurdle for Paul Nicholls last time. While Nicky Henderson, who took this race with Champ last year, runs The Cashel Man, who was an impressive ten-length scorer in a handicap at Newbury last time.

Enrilo (left): winner at Sandown last timeCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The quintet is completed by Stick With Bill for Harry Whittington, who has never been outside the top two in four career starts, and the Emma Lavelle-trained Eclair Surf.

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