Kingmaker Novices’ Chase Preview and Free Racing Tips

Preview and Free Betting Tips for the Kingmaker Novices' Chase – Another weekend and yet more racing which should provide plenty of clues for the Festival in March.  This week, my focus turns to Warwick and the Kingmaker Novices' Chase which looks likely to impact on the Arkle ante-post markets.  Here are my thoughts on the race.

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BALDER SUCCES (13/8 William Hill) heads the field for trainer Alan King and jockey Wayne Hutchinson.  The stable seems to be returning to form after a little time under a cloud which forced the operation to close down for a couple of weeks.  A few winners this week will have brought a certain amount of relief, most notably the ex Henry Cecil recruit First Mohican impressing on Thursday.  In terms of Balder Succes, after disappointing last time out in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown in December, Alan King stated that he would be given a break after not travelling with his usual flare. Hopefully the horse is back to his best, and this should prove to be his final preparation before the Festival, where he offers great each-way value for the Arkle at 33/1.  He really took the eye when winning at Chepstow, where he smashed the course record and on that form he'll be hard to beat.  I'm hoping that he is back to his best, and I'm really looking forward to his return.

Venetia Williams sends Brick Red (3/1 Stan James) to the race, under Liam Treadwell, with her main stable jockey heading to Newbury.  The trainer is in superb form at the moment, with four big winners last Saturday at both Sandown and Ffos Las.  The stable generally seem to relish the heavier ground and Brick Red certainly seems to conform to that as well.  He has already claimed victory twice this year in desperate conditions and I think that yet another race over 3m on testing ground may well be a bit too much for him. 

The Paul Nicholls trained Valco De Touzaine (3/1 Coral) seems to have slightly gone under the radar – unsurprisingly I suppose when you think of all the novice chasers in the yard.  He was entered in the Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown last weekend, but wasn't declared, so connections probably had this race as the preferred option – perhaps waiting for better ground.  He looks an exciting prospect, with his consistency standing out.  If he is able to deal with the conditions he could well put in a bold show.

Lord Of House (7/1 bet365) (who is also engaged at Newbury) is another horse who holds an entry for the Arkle.  The Charlie Mann trained six year-old is a consistent type having finished in the first four every time he's run this season.  Lord Of House is yet to be tested against better opposition, and this race is sure to test him.  The heavy ground is not a problem, but I'd rather watch him for now until we know what he can do against the higher rated horses. 

The final runner is the ten year old Tchang Goon (200/1 Coral) who on official ratings is well below par in comparison to the rest of the field.  Another one best watched for the moment, it should be a nice day out for connections, who are sure to make the most of having a runner in a big race meeting on a Saturday.

This race is all about the return of BALDER SUCCES – if he wins he's in for a shout in the Arkle come March.  I've already backed him each-way for the Festival, at what I think is a massive price of 33/1!  I am hoping that the yard is fully recovered and this horse is back to his best.  His main danger looks to be the Paul Nicholls Valco De Touzaine who looks relatively unexposed so far in his career.

Kingmaker Novices’ Free Betting Tip – 

BALDER SUCCES (WIN) (13/8 William Hill)

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