Paul Nicholls back in form with two winners before gambled-on Kempton favourite

The Paul Nicholls-trained Dargiannini has been one of the gambles of the day, having been backed from 7-1 into 7-2 favouritism for the Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Handicap Hurdle (4.10) at Kempton.

Saturday has been a good day so far for Nicholls, with two winners for the trainer including Pic D'Orhy, who secured victory in the Grade 2 Coral Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton with a fine leap over the last to beat Millers Bank.

It was the 12th time in the last 17 runnings that the Pendil has been won by a Nicholls-trained runner.

Earlier in the day, Hacker Des Places had secured a first victory of the day for Britain's champion trainer in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow as the trainer returns to some form after what had been a lean 2022 so far.

Adonis Hurdle: Knight Salute maintains unbeaten hurdling record with third Grade 2 win

In the Eider, Christian Williams' Win My Wings has been backed into clear favouritism. The versatile nine-year-old, who won a mares' chase at Cheltenham and a French hurdle race at Compiegne last term, is 5-1 from 15-2 to score, displacing long-time favourite and Irish raider History Of Fashion who is on the drift.

Ryan Mania takes the ride for the first time with punters hoping Williams' skill at prepping his horses for marathon chases, as demonstrated with 2019 Welsh National winner Potters Corner who he also runs here, can pay dividends.

Williams also has three runners in the £150,000 feature at Kempton, the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase (3.37), with Kitty's Light the best supported of the trio with the Charlie Hall Chase runner-up as short as 14-1 in some places after being 25-1 overnight.

Market movers

3.15Newcastle Win My Wings 5-1f (from 15-2)
3.37Kempton Kitty's Light 14-1 (from 25-1)
4.10Kempton Dargiannini 7-2f (from 7-1)
4.18Fairyhouse Escaria Ten 7-4 (from 11-4)

'It’s not dried out too much at all'

Both Kempton and Newcastle are good, good to soft in places ahead of their stellar seven-race cards on Saturday afternoon.

Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford reported it was all systems go for the meeting including three Grade 2s and featuring the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase.

Clifford said: "It’s lovely. It’s a bit frosty and we’re currently one degree but we’re good to soft, good in places. It’s going to dry out throughout the day but it’ll ride a bit dead."

Meanwhile Newcastle clerk Elouise Quayle noted that ground would not dry out too much throughout the afternoon's action after a tranquil few days in the north-east. Quayle said: "We’re good to soft, good in places. It’s a lovely, still mild morning for this time of year and looking like it’s going to be a really nice day today weather wise.

"Yesterday was remarkably still as well. The day before we’d had quite strong winds which changed it quite quickly but yesterday was a nice still day so it’s not dried out too much at all.”

Non-runners

The wait for Ardhill, a runaway winner of an Ascot handicap in December, to make his next start goes on after Gordon Elliott opted to take out his seven-year-old from the 2m4f handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse for which he had been leading the market.

That seven and a half length success at the Berkshire track came on good to soft ground with Elliott taking Ardhill, who holds an entry for the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival , out due to the softening ground at Fairyhouse.

Ardhill (front): taken out at Fairyhouse by Gordon ElliottCredit: Edward Whitaker

Fairyhouse
3.08 17. Ardhill
3.43 12. Prince Zaltar

Lingfield
4.20 8. Makarova

Newcastle
3.15 17. Strong Economy
3.50 6. Lively Citizen
5.00 1. Joie De Vivre, 5. Bestiarius

Saturday's race previews:

3.15 Newcastle: trainer quotes and expert insight for the Eider Chase

3.37 Kempton: 'He's turned a corner' – Christian Williams chases big prize with three chances

4.18 Fairyhouse: last year's Grand National third and fourth go head-to-head in Bobbyjo Chase

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