Feature race on Thursday is the Peterborough Chase, a contest which has become somewhat lost in the calendar in recent years, but plans to move it back to a weekend slot next year promise to revitalise a race which has been won by both Champion Chase and Gold Cup heroes of yesteryear. The good news for Huntingdon's executive is that this year's renewal is something of a belter, with Riverside Theatre and Captain Chris attempting to recapture former glories, and the exciting Module attempting to make his mark for the younger generation.
My vote lies squarely with Captain Chris, a horse who is patently at his very best with the conditions he faces today. He ran a stormer in last year's King George when his speed got him past Long Run before superior stamina won the day for the latter, and his only blip when racing right handed is when he memorably unseated the hapless Richard Johnson when in the process of winning the Haldon Gold Cup in 2011. Despite making the frame in 2 King Georges and a Punchestown Gold Cup, he clearly finds 3m the limit of his stamina, and he's always been at his most comfortable over this sort of trip.
Captain Chris has a stiff task on paper to beat Riverside Theatre, but there must be questions about whether the latter is the force of old, and he's not looked the same since Barry Geraghty strained every sinew to lift him home in the 2012 Ryanair; always a rather fragile sort, that memorable success seems to have left an indelible mark, and while connections have presumably left no stone unturned in getting him back on song, he's not a horse I could touch at present.
Champion Court is another to consider, having travelled notably well in last year's King George, but he could finish only seventh in the Paddy Power last time despite tremendous confidence from his yard. Martin Keighley has put up an original excuse in "tummy ache" for that eclipse, but this talented performer is now becoming reminiscent of an errant schoolboy who is going through a series of excuses for turning up without his homework. Module may well have the requisite scope to go well, but formlines taken through Cue Card are potentially dangerous, and the form of the Tom George is a major concern.
Next best on the day comes in much less exalted company at Kempton, but the claims of Medam are crystal clear in the opener, and she is twice the price I made her when compiling the card. Shaun Harris' mare is modest at best, but unlike many of her rivals, she wins when the opportunity arises, and has served notice that her time is near with excellent efforts on her last couple of starts. Beaten two noses over six furlongs at Wolverhampton on her penultimate outing, she went for home too soon over the extended seven there last time, and was reeled back after trading odds on in the run. She's a hold-up type, but has some tactical speed, and isn't reliant on a strong pace, as she showed last time. If Shirley Teasdale can keep her out of trouble from the inside stall, and produce her at the right moment then she should be able to swoop past some out-of-form rivals.
Recommendations:
Back Captain Chris @ [5.3] in the 14:00 Huntingdon (NAP)
Back Medam @ [6.8] in the 15:50 Kempton (NB)
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