Drying ground will ensure that Warwick’s Classic Chase is not the slog it has often been in the past and that should suit Cogry (3.00), who has plenty of form on a sound surface. He could not keep tabs on Milansbar on soft ground a year ago but may have the legs of that rival, now 12 years old, this time.
Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, Cogry has already put up a couple of game efforts this season and refitted cheekpieces helped him to score at Cheltenham last month. He can again go well from the front here.
Crosspark is a possible source of each-way value at 20-1, having won twice from three runs since November. He is still 1lb below the mark from which he was fourth in this race a year ago, when his petrol gauge was on empty from two-out. His stamina should take him further on this surface.
1.50 Warwick Since Rocky’s Treasure went over fences he has been beaten by only Santini. Still, he has to give weight to some talented rivals here, including White Moon, a chaser on looks whose record over fences so far is better than appears from his form figures.
2.05 Kempton The eight-year-old Charbel is in the form of his life this season and looks one to stick with, bearing in mind how he ran away with the Peterborough a month ago. Top Notch is a real threat after a respectable return over hurdles.
2.25 Warwick Birchdale having become a non-runner, this looks a good opportunity for Tidal Flow, who gave 6lb and a beating to a Nicky Henderson hotpot at Newbury just before Christmas. Stoney Mountain can make him work.
2.40 Kempton The Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle can fall to Paul Nicholls for a third time in six runnings, thanks to Darling Maltaix, to be partnered by the yard’s promising claimer, Lorcan Williams. Teaching this one to settle has been hard work but he finally did so behind a strong pace at Ascot last time and it may be a similar story here. He could have run at Kempton on Boxing Day without a penalty for that success but Nicholls preferred to come here off a much higher rating, suggesting this one has potential to do better again.
3.15 Kempton Most of these need a few excuses to be made for their recent efforts but Glen Rocco, the youngest in the field, is a point-to-point winner who now seems to be going the right way in his first year over fences. This step up in trip should help.
3.35 Warwick This return to hurdles could be good news for Holly Bush Henry, last seen being pulled up in the gruelling Welsh National at Chepstow. He is only 2lb higher than the mark from which he won at Sandown last season, also in a Pertemps qualifier, and seems well suited by three miles on a sound surface. Richard Johnson rides for the first time.
Kempton 12.20 Chaparral Prince 12.55 Lomachenko 1.30 Amour De Nuit 2.05 Charbel 2.40 Darling Maltaix 3.15 Glen Rocco 3.45 Oakley
Wetherby 12.30 Oscar Wilde 1.05 Minnies Secret 1.40 Apterix 2.15 Nuts Well 2.50 Kapgarry 3.25 Manwell 3.55 Fourshoes
Warwick 12.40 Texan Nomad (nb) 1.15 Huntsman Son 1.50 White Moon 2.25 Birchdale 3.00 Cogry (nap) 3.35 Holly Bush Henry 4.05 Dont Tell The Wife
Lingfield 12.50 Sweet Nature 1.25 Merhoob 2.00 Dutch Uncle 2.35 Breden 3.10 Pheidippides 3.40 Diamond Reflection
Newcastle 3.30 Highway Robber 4.00 Paparazzi 4.30 I Am Dandy 5.00 Kareena Kapoor 5.30 Tough Remedy 6.00 Custard The Dragon 6.30 Lucky Lodge 7.00 Klopp