Black Corton and Bryony Frost all the rage in Betway Chase at Kempton

Black Corton has shortened at the head of the market for the Betway Handicap Chase at Kempton on Saturday with the topweight into 4-1 favourite (from 6) to take the prize.

One of four runners in the race for trainer Paul Nicholls, Black Corton, a horse once described by his jockey Bryony Frost as having “a funny little waddle and big ears” was fourth at Ascot on his most recent outing at Ascot in December.

Black Corton’s stablemate Sametegal is described as a “lively outsider” by Nicholls in a race he has won twice before with Gungadu and Rocky Creek.

Kempton is one of four meetings going ahead on Saturday, after Newcastle’s Eider Handicap Chase fixture was called off due to waterlogging and false ground.

Clerk of the course James Armstrong had hoped the meeting would go ahead after less rain than forecast fell on Friday, but overnight the weather deteriorated and the fixture was called off shortly before 8am.

Armstrong said: “It’s a shame but unfortunately you can’t beat the weather. There are several areas around the course that haven’t taken it as well as others and are waterlogged.

“I thought we’d dodged a bullet yesterday and we’re potentially out of the woods as we were only due 2mm overnight, but it didn’t stop raining from 7pm last night through to 6am.”

The highlight of Saturday’s card was due to be the 4m1½f Eider Handicap Chase, and Armstrong was unsure whether there would be any move to restage the race, and said: “The Eider is a fairly unique race and fits in quite well where it is in terms of the Grand National and Cheltenham as it takes time to recover from it. We’ll have to have a discussion and see.”

There are four other meetings taking place in Britain and Ireland on Saturday at Kempton, Lingfield, Fairyhouse and Chelmsford. Carlisle will hold an 8am inspection on Sunday for its meeting on Monday.

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