Kempton Park Chase Tips, Betting Offers and Odds

Kempton Chase Preview: Tips, Betting Offers and Odds, Kempton, 22 February 2020

As we approach the end of February and that magic racing month of March (and Cheltenham!), Kempton plays host to the Kempton Park Chase – known as the Betway Chase in 2020. Read on for some of the best odds and offers as well as our betting tips for the race.

First run in 1949 this Grade 3 handicap Chase now has close to £100,000 total prize money on offer to connections. With a total of 18 fences to be safely negotiated around three miles of Kempton’s sharp right handed turns this offers a thorough examination of jumping and staying ability.

Betway Handicap Chase Tips and Betting Offers, 3:35, 22nd February 2020

The Betway Handicap Chase is one of a number of trials for the Grand National at Aintree. This 3 mile contest is usually run at a decent pace and on tricky ground at Kempton so it’s a bigger test of stamina than the bare distance might look at first sight. Many horses are held back and specifically targeted at this valuable contest and there are plenty of potential winners in the field for this year’s renewal which has produced an exciting betting heat.

Adrien Du Pont Could be On Point

The Betway Handicap Chase’s reputation as a race which is tough for punters to call correctly is backed up by the fact that there have been no winning favourites in the last decade. There are, however, a couple of very strong performers at this level towards the top of the betting for the 2020 running.

Paul Nicholls trains many of the leading charges for this Grade 3 including top weighted Black Corton. He has developed a strong partnership with jockey, Bryony Frost, and won’t be easily shaken off in the closing stages but the 11st 12lb on his back is likely to just be too much for him.

Black Corton may be unofficially the main card in Nicholls’ four-strong hand but it’s Adrien Du Pont who is getting most support from punters. That the eight-year-old has been backed into a 6/1 favourite with RaceBets does look surprising on first glancing his form for the season. He was pulled up first time out in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot before finishing fourth of five in the Graduation Chase at the same track.

Connections would obviously have preferred those races to have worked out better but they are more than happy to allow offer excuses for a horse who has given them a lot to smile about over the years. He did look in need of that first run and the ground was never likely to suit in the second so better things are expected at Kempton where he has done some very good work before.

Talkischeap Can Walk the Walk

Alan King has done many things as a National Hunt trainer but the Grand National has so far been just out of his reach. He has genuine hopes that will change this year thanks to Talkischeap.

King has found it nearly impossible to get his National hope a run over the winter as the ground has simply been too soft. He is desperate for a run hence his entry on soft ground at Kempton but it might turn out to be just what Talkischeap needs. He’s run well at Kempton before and has ample stamina to go further than 3 miles so this trip on soft ground could turn out to be just right.

Betting Predictions

Talkischeap’s chances of a good run in the Betway Handicap Chase are better than the 11/1 that Coral are quoting but he does look a better each way bet than one for straight support. Punters who are having the one straight bet in this one should instead turn their attentions to Adrien Du Pont at 5/1 with Paddy Power.

Kempton Park Chase Previous Winners

2019 – Walt – jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, trainer Neil Mulholland
2018 – Master Dee – jockey Barry Gerraghty, trainer Fergal O’Brien
2017 – Pilgrims Bay – jockey James Best, trainer Neil Mulholland
2016 – Theatre Guide – jockey Paddy Brennan, trainer Colin Tizzard
2015 – Rocky Creek – jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, trainer Paul Nicholls
2014 – Bally Legend – jockey Ian Popham, trainer Caroline Keevil
2013 – Opening Batsman – jockey Noel Fehily, trainer Harry Fry
2012 – Nacarat – jockey Paddy Brennan, trainer Tom George
2011 – Quinz – jockey Richard Johnson, trainer Philip Hobbs
2010 – Razor Royale – jockey Paddy Brennan, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies
2009 – Nacarat – jockey Tony McCoy, trainer Tom George
2008 – Gungadu – jockey Ruby Walsh, trainer Paul Nicholls
2007 – Simon – jockey Andrew Thornton, trainer John Spearing
2006 – Innox – jockey Tony McCoy, trainer Francois Doumen

Kempton Park Chase History

The race has been supported by a number of sponsors over the years. However it was the backing of the Racing Post in 1988 which led to an increase in the value of the race and really elevated it into the spotlight. Rebranded as the Racing Post Chase until the final year of sponsorship in 2011 it became one of the top handicap targets for owners and trainers. From 2014 the race will be titled the Betbright Chase due to the backing of the online betting company.

Four abandonments have been suffered over the lifespan of this contest, the latest came in 1986 and all have been a result of snow and frost. The only other year the race has not taken place at this Sunbury-on-Thames venue came in 2006, Sandown Park played host that year as Kempton underwent a significant redevelopment.

Due to its position in the racing calendar, this contest often serves as a trial for the Grand National at Aintree. The trip may not be as extreme as that marathon event but Kempton does provide a useful jumping test in the build up to that race. The 1988 and 1996 winners here, Rhyme ‘n’ Reason and Rough Quest both went on to Aintree to capture the most famous race of them all in the same season.

Other famous past winners include one of the most popular racehorses of all time. The four-time King George VI Chase winner, Desert Orchid, who took this prize in 1990. The Australian winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Crisp, may be most famous for coming second to Red Rum in the 1973 Grand National, but he did get his nose in front here in 1972.

Richard Johnson leads the way amongst the jockeys. His success aboard Quinz in 2011 marking his fifth triumph in all. Johnson also achieved the notable feat of winning the race in three consecutive years from 2000-2002. The only other jockey to achieve this was another Richard. Richard Pitman partnered Crisp to victory in 1972, before dual successes on Pendil in 1973 and 1974.

Pitman’s three wins all came for trainer Fred Winter, who remains the only handler to record three wins in as many years. They were his only wins though, leaving him one behind Philip Hobbs who is out in front as the top trainer.

Four six year olds have won here, with the most recent being Gloria Victis in the year 2000. Overall the edge seems to lie with those runners aged 8 and above, only 11 of the first 63 winners of the race were younger than this. The twelve year olds Marlborough and Fort Devon are the oldest to have prevailed here.