Can I Get A Witness?

13:55 Chepstow: With original fancy Super Villan now a non-runner with a bruised foot, the most appealing win angle is Fourovakind, who was a useful winner over hurdles at the track last year, and is capable of improving on the form he's shown to date over fences now handicapping with headgear tried for the first time. The other potential angle in the race is a back-to-lay of Victor Dartnall Tolkein's Tango on his chase debut. The son of Beneficial has the physique to better his hurdles form in this sphere, and travelled notably strongly on his penultimate hurdles outing. Like many from his yard, however, he's struggled to string solid form figures together, and has looked less than keen on occasion. Those traits will see him go off at a big price today, but his latent ability may see him trade much shorter, for all he makes limited appeal as a win-only bet. He may be worth including in forecast bets, particularly with his expected SP to boost potential returns.

15:50 Kempton: The early BetBright Chase betting was dominated by a pair of dubious stayers, with Bury Parade also having doubts about his temperament. Known as a "nappy" sort at home, he disgraced himself by refusing to race at Exeter in December. That aberration was put down to the proximity of the start to the saddling boxes, and he was on his best behaviour at Ascot, but the configuration of Kempton is a major concern, with the 3m start immediately adjacent to the racecourse stables. If that really is the trigger for Bury Parade's misbehaviour, then he simply can't be backed until jumping off. Even if he does, though, a step up to 3m in a strongly run race is not likely to bring out the best in a free going sort like him, and he's hardly thrown in off top weight. 

Tour des Champs is one I wanted to be with at the opening odds, and will surely win a decent race off his current mark, but his price has tumbled after getting the Pricewise treatment. With testing ground remaining a worry for him, he's probably too short at around 13/2, and of more appeal is Ardkilly Witness, who is just about the least exposed in the field, and took a big step in the right direction when second to Relax at Sandown recently. His jumping has been an issue, but was an asset on the whole there (only notable blip at the last), and as a dual heavy-ground point winner, he will handle the conditions better than most. With questions over his main rivals, and with improvement still to come after just five chase starts, he really should be favourite, and merits a bet at 7/1 or bigger.

Recommendations:

Lays:

Bury Parade for a place at 3.0 or shorter in the BetBright Chase (15:50 Kempton)
Bets:

Back Ardkilly Witness to win at 7/1 (general) in the BetBright Chase (15:50 Kempton)

In running:

Back Tolkeins Tango to lay back in the 13:55 Chepstow 

Exotics:

Combine Fourovakind/Tolkeins Tango in exotics 13:55 Chepstow