Can Le Cameleon back up comeback win at Warwick in the card's feature chase?

Monday: 2.20 Kempton
racingtv.com Handicap Chase | 2m4½f | 4yo+ | RTV

It looks a fiercely competitive handicap on paper, but the eye is nonetheless drawn to Le Cameleon.

Winner of three of his last five starts, the seven-year-old could continue on an upward curve for some time, with a rating of 131 unlikely to be the ceiling of his ability.

The Jane Williams stable emerged from a quiet spell with two winners last week and appears to be hitting top form.

Scene Not Herd made rapid progress after being switched to fences last term, his mark soaring from 112 to 134 following wins at Hereford, Newcastle and Ludlow.

The gelding’s biggest strength is his spectacular jumping and Kempton’s stiff jumping test, which suits horses who sit close to the pace, ought to be right up his street.

It’s probably best to put a line through his disappointing Sandown fourth in March when sent off 3-1 favourite. He remains one to be interested in this campaign and could win a valuable prize at some stage.

Viva Lavilla and Striking A Pose, who hail from leading stables, are six-year-olds open to improvement, while the Venetia Williams-trained Haut Folin, a dual chase winner in France who has been given a mark of 117, merits market inspection.

Gary Moore, who landed big races at Ascot and Haydock on Saturday with Goshen and Botox Has, saddles Dorking Lad, third over an inadequate trip on his reappearance at the track this month.

Dorking Lad progressed well last term and comes into calculations now back up to a more suitable trip.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

What they say

Kim Bailey, trainer of The Edgar Wallace
We’re very happy with him and he is in a good place at home for his first start of the season. He’s got top weight but any rain will be beneficial to him and we expect him to run very well.

Joe Tizzard, trainer of Striking A Pose
He didn’t really train on last season but he did win nicely first time out at Exeter. We were going to run him at Newbury but the ground went against him so hopefully this surface will be fine for him. I think he’ll be competitive.

Charlie Longsdon, trainer of Scene Not Herd
He’s been a fun horse for us and this looks a good starting point back. It’s a competitive race but he goes there with a good each-way chance and should enjoy the ground as long as it’s not bottomless, but it seldom is at Kempton.

Robert Walford, trainer of Flagrant Delitiep
We gave him a run back over hurdles the other day but he really needs bottomless ground to show his best form. If it’s safe ground he’ll run.

Jonjo O'Neill: trainer of OrrisdaleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Jonjo O’Neill, trainer of Orrisdale
He ran a respectable comeback when fourth at Market Rasen and has come on for that. He has a sporting each-way chance.

David Noonan, rider of Le Cameleon
He put up a good performance when winning on his comeback at Warwick, when he felt as good as ever. He enjoys going around flat tracks like Newton Abbot and Haydock so Kempton ticks a lot of boxes for him.

Tony Carroll, trainer of Nelson River
It’s his first start of the season, but he’s talented and will win a nice race this season. Our stable is in good form and we expect a nice run.

Gary Moore, trainer of Dorking Lad
He ran well there last time over a lesser trip when he was staying on well at the end. This is a better race but hopefully he should have a fitness edge over some of the opposition.
Reporting by David Milnes

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