Kalashnikov has sights on Oldgrangewood revenge in Paddy Power Handicap rematch

2.00 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Handicap Chase | Grade 3 | 2m4½f, 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

It is Kalashnikov versus Oldgrangewood take two as Amy Murphy's topweight bids to gain revenge over his Newbury conqueror after only a nose separated the pair in November.

Runner-up in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2018, Kalashnikov looked all over the winner when going clear in the straight at Newbury, but giving away 20lb to Oldgrangewood proved just beyond him.

Now 1lb better off for that reversal, the son of Kalanisi sticks to the same trip having swerved the option of stepping up to three miles at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

Although he is likely to be sent off favourite again, Kalashnikov faces no easy task with all the fancied and highest-rated runners standing their ground in a 12-strong line-up.

Murphy said: "Kalashnikov is up 6lb for his narrow defeat at Newbury and will have to be on his absolute A-game to win it as there looks to be a strong turnout.

"Ideally we would have liked to have run him in a left-handed Grade 1 over two and a half miles, but there isn't one around at the moment so we have nowhere else to go.

"We had toyed with the idea of stepping him up to three miles at Wetherby but this is more valuable. He's been in great form at home since Newbury and we hope he can get his head in front."

Jockey Harry Skelton said about Oldgrangewood, trained by his brother Dan: "He's in good form and came out of Newbury very well. Hopefully the ground dries out as the drier, the better for him."

Williams and Cepage eye repeat success

Venetia Williams could not have her team in better form and Cepage bids to supplement the win of stablemate Aso, who carried the same Bellamy Partnership colours to glory in this race a year ago.

Cepage has not won since March 2018, but he finished an honourable fourth in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup over course and distance last time.

Cepage (near): held off Cobra De Mai (far) to land a big prize at Kempton last seasonCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Williams said: "This looks the obvious race for him off his rating and although it's only three weeks since his last run he's come out of it in good shape.

"He looks sure to run his usual race and he should enjoy the drying ground."

What they say

Harry Whittington, trainer of Saint Calvados
This looks the right time to step him up in trip and he likes a nice gap between his races. We're hopeful he'll run another good race.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Magic Saint
We've always thought he wants this sort of trip and he needed every yard of the two miles when he beat Bun Doran at Newbury. The runner-up went on to win the Desert Orchid so the form is good. If the ground continues to dry out he'd go there with every chance.

Richard Spencer, trainer of Outlander
He ran a nice comeback at Aintree. This is the next step, but his initial big target is the Cross Country Chase at the festival and he's schooled around there already.

Ok Corral (left): dropped in trip for Wednesday's testCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Ok Corral
It’s a big drop in trip for him, but he was overracing in the Ladbrokes Trophy and he's not a slow horse. We got it wrong with him last season as he should have run in the RSA rather than the National Hunt Chase, although he wasn't quite right anyway because of the flu vaccination. I just want to try to find out exactly where we are with him and this looks the right race to try that out in.

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