Kalashnikov out to enhance Racing Post Arkle claims in Wayward Lad at Kempton

1.20 Kempton

32Red.com Wayward Lad Novices' Chase | Grade 2 | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Kalashnikov was already the Racing Post Arkle favourite before Mengli Khan blotted his copybook at Leopardstown on Wednesday, and Amy Murphy's pride and joy has the opportunity to cement his position at Kempton on Thursday.

Last season's Betfair Hurdle winner and Supreme Novices' runner-up is unbeaten in two starts over fences this year, after wide-margin wins at Warwick and Plumpton.

Heavily odds-on on both occasions, he looks likely to start at odds-on for a third time here, despite facing his toughest test over fences to date.

"He's in grand order and deserves to take his chance," said the five-year-old's trainer Amy Murphy.

"He wants decent ground and he's done all he can in normal novice chases so we're stepping him up. He can get a bit stuffy, but it all depends what happens here as to what we do next."

Maria's Benefit is the other horse in the race with an unbeaten record over fences to defend.

Her odds-on victories have come at Newton Abbot and in a Listed contest at Bangor, but this represents a major step up for the six-year-old.

Five from seven over hurdles, she finished fourth at the Cheltenham Festival in the Trull House Mares' Novices' Hurdle two days after Kalashnikov was just touched off in the Supreme.

Maria's Benefit's trainer Stuart Edmunds said: "She'll like the ground, she'll like the track, it's just the opposition that's a bit stiff. She's in good heart and she's right at the weights with the majority of them, apart from Kalashnikov, but we'll take our chance."

The last time there was a Graded novice chase in Surrey featuring a horse who was a warm order for the Racing Post Arkle, the favourite, on that occasion Lalor, was well-beaten behind Dynamite Dollars.

The victor has a 5lb penalty for that victory in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown this month and his trainer Paul Nicholls believes he faces an even stiffer task this time.

He said: "It's tough with a 5lb penalty for winning his Grade 1, but we wouldn't give that away. There aren't many options for him so we're coming here, but Kalashnikov will be hard to beat giving that weight.

"It's a novice chase so it's all about jumping, so we'll see what happens."

The Chris Gordon-trained Highway One O One was two and a half lengths behind Lalor that day, and 14¼ behind Dynamite Dollars. At Market Rasen two starts previous he gave the same horse 6lb and was beaten only nine lengths, while his other two runs this season have both been victorious.

His trainer said: "He's fit and well and has won two races this season so is harder to place, but we're having fun in these Graded races. It's a very tough task but fingers crossed for a big run."

The field is completed by 200-1 shot Hope's Wishes. The eight-year-old, trained by Barry Brennan, is yet to win in four starts over fences and is officially rated 96 over fences - some 57lb shy of the top-rated Dynamite Dollars.

Brennan said: "I think she's well named, we're hoping and wishing! She's a lovely mare but she's out of her depth. We're hoping for a clear round and we'll see what happens."

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