Key questions as Santini bids to build on towering reputation

1.55 Kempton
32Red Kauto Star Novices' Chase (Grade 1) | 3m | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Gold Cup and other Grade 1 winners litter this race's roll of honour. Known historically as the Feltham, the name was permanently changed to honour the magical five-time King George winner in 2013.

Long Run and Coneygree went on from winning this to taking the ultimate prize at Cheltenham and this year's line-up boasts horses with similarly high reputations, principally Santini and Topofthegame.

Official BHA ratings suggest it is a race with as much depth as strength, with The Worlds End and front-running pair Bags Groove and La Bague Au Roi also entitled to have their say.

Six years have passed since a favourite came home victorious, but such is Santini's reputation he is almost guaranteed to start market leader on what will be his first run right-handed.

Trainer Nicky Henderson said: "This is one of the best races of the whole meeting and whatever wins this will end up favourite for the RSA. There are at least five horses that are well capable of winning this.

"The good to soft ground will be fine for him and chasing was always going to be his game. It's his first time going right-handed – he doesn't tend to drift so I don't see it being a problem at all. Now I've said that, he'll probably end up in the car park!"

Will Topofthegame give them another start?

Paul Nicholls is confident Exeter was a one-off for Topofthegame, who shied away from the starter's flag and gave his rivals 20 lengths before running on remarkably to finish second to Defi Du Seuil.

A faller on his only other start over regulation fences the year before, Topofthegame has a reputation to repair, with Nicholls on record as saying if he has a future Gold Cup contender it is this six-year-old.

Topofthegame: needs to be back on his game after giving his rivals 20 lengths at the start at ExeterCredit: Edward Whitaker

The trainer said: "It's a proper novice chase and I'm looking forward to running him. He doesn't want the ground too soft and is in good shape.

"Exeter was too short for him and he'll probably learn an awful lot from that run. He'll come forward for that and for going up to three miles."

Who will win the front-running battle?

Bags Groove has taken a leap forward since being allowed to dictate in his last two races, but he could face a stumbling block here as the mare La Bague Au Roi also enjoys being in front.

La Bague Au Roi was impressive in winning a Listed mares' hurdle over an extended three miles at Kempton last year and has breezed to two wins over fences over shorter trips this season.

Jockey Richard Johnson said: "I’ve been really impressed with La Bague Au Roi this season and I’m excited to get back on her.

La Bague Au Roi: has employed front-running tactics recentlyCredit: Getty Images

"As you’d expect with a Grade 1, it’s a very hot renewal, but it’s hard to find races to run these horses in and on official ratings with her mares’ allowance she should go very close."

He added in his Betway blog: "She’s one who would prefer the rain to stay away. Three miles on good to soft will be fine, but very soft ground might be a problem. Flat tracks seem to bring out the best in her."

Such is the regard Harry Fry has for Bags Groove, the Peterborough Chase was seriously considered, but having won a Grade 2 on his previous start he would have been penalised against hardened chasers.

Instead Bags Groove's stamina for three miles was tested in the novice chase on the card, where he comfortably gave weight away all round, with Santini's owner Richard Kelvin Hughes owning runner-up Thomas Campbell.

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer of No Hassle Hoff
He's the outsider of the lot and we know the size of the task, but you have to ride him negatively so we hope he can pick up some of the pieces.

Kelly Morgan, trainer of Red Indian
He’s in good form and we’re very excited to be running him. He did everything right at Ayr so we thought he should take his chance. It’s a very competitive race but he’s still an unknown quantity, we don't know how good he could be. And we hope he’s improved for that first run.

Tom George, trainer of The Worlds End
We weren't planning on running him, but Cheltenham didn't take anything out of him. Physically, to the eye, he seems absolutely full of it. There are zero opportunities for him after this until February, when it could be heavy ground so we thought we'd best take our chance and give him some more experience while we can. I said that Kempton might be a bit sharp for him, but we thought about it and he's arrived there swinging in staying hurdles, he's not that slow. I think he'll raise his game when he needs to.

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news