Having fallen in the weights, Adrien Du Pont looks the one to be on in the 3m Grade 3 Betway Handicap Chase at Kempton on Saturday (15:35).
This eight-year-old, who hails from the in-form yard of Paul Nicholls, has won once and been placed once in two starts over this course and distance.
In the last of those successes back in December 2018, the Johnny De La Hey owned gelding came from off the pace to take up the running on the bit three from home.
Adrien Du Pont then stayed on strongly to easily account for Just A Sting by 3 1/2 lengths off a mark of 144.
The son of Claifax got put up 7lb for that taking success, but ran a cracker of his revised rating of 151 when a five-length third of 10 to Walt in this 12 months ago.
He has failed to trouble the judge in three starts since, and not been at his best in two outings this season, but that has resulted in the handicapper cutting him plenty of slack.
Adrien Du Pont is now able to race off a reduced rating of 145, just 1lb higher than when last victorious.
That makes him a huge player from a handicapping perspective at a track which clearly plays to his strengths.
He is also versatile as regards ground and Nicholls is operating at a strike rate of just under 30 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing,
This race is also sure to have been the target for Adrien Du Pont. So, at odds of 5/1 with BetVictor, he is taken to land the spoils.
Kildisart weighted to go well and feared most
Kildisart hasn’t been at his best in his last two outings, but looks nicely treated on the pick of his form and is therefore feared most in a wide-open renewal of the Betway Handicap Chase.
This Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned eight-year-old enjoyed a terrific time last season when winning three of his five starts over fences.
After finishing a fine fourth to Defi Du Seuil in what has turned out to be a very hot renewal of the Grade 1 JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Ben Pauling’s charge went on to round off the campaign with a very impressive success when eased in grade.
When dropped into a Grade 3 handicap chase at the Aintree Grand National Festival, Kildisart was held-up at the rear of the 18-runner field and then made stealthy headway approaching the fourth last.
After taking up the running at the final fence, he then only had to be driven out to beat Mister Malarky by five lengths off a mark of 148.
Kildisart scored with plenty in hand and now meets the re-opposing runner-up on exactly the same terms, so there is no reason why he should not confirm the form.
There was also lots to like about his return to action this season when a promising 11 1/4 lengths third to subsequent Betfair Chase winner Lostintransaltion in a graduation chase at Carlisle off an official rating of 156.
Kildisart has failed to build on that in two subsequent runs at Ascot, but is now able to race off a mark of 151 as a result. That looks exploitable judged on his aforementioned success at Aintree.
At 12/1 with Paddy Power, who pay four places, Kildisart looks a solid each-way contender and may be the biggest threat.
Just A Sting another with Betway Handicap Chase claims
In a race where a case can be made for most of the 14 runners, Just a Sting is another that appeals each-way at 13/2 with William Hill.
Trained by Harry Fry, this eight-year-old is a lightly-raced sort who has won three of his seven starts over fences.
In the first of those at Uttoxeter, the son of Scorpion jumped well and stayed on strongly to account for Station Master by two lengths off a rating of 125.
Just A Sting then defied a 6lb rise in the weights in game fashion when beating Gunfleet by a head at Exeter.
He got put up another 6lb for that, but ran really well in his hat-trick bid of a revised rating of 137 when a 3 1/2 lengths second to Adrien Du Pont over this course and distance.
After racing wide, Just A Sting made stealthy headway to take up the running four from home.
At that point he looked set for victory, but he then began to idle a bit and got headed approaching the last.
Just A Sting stuck to the task gamely, however, to go down by 3 1/2 lengths and now meets the winner on 1lb better terms.
He then ran well when 10th of 23 to Any Second Now in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 137, before disappointing when pulled-up in the bet365 Gold Cup.
However, Just A Sting comes into the Betway Handicap Chase in good form having returned to winning ways over course and distance with a battling head success over Quaranta.
He has been put up just 4lb for that to 137, and it should enable him to be very competitive over a 3m trip which he boasts a 66 per cent strike rate.
