Nick Luck’s William Hill Blog: Apple could run Away with the prize

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck runs his expert eye over the best of Saturday’s action from Kempton, Warwick and Wetherby.

Saturday, Kempton

DE RASHER COUNTER can roll back the years in the TV opener at Kempton (1.30pm) at 7/1. Due to appear in the Veterans’ Final at Sandown last weekend, that scuppered plan may be a blessing in disguise, because he gets far more suitable conditions here in not such a competitive race off a handicap mark that has been carefully curated for this time of year. This is his first preference over Warwick, and it’s not hard to see why.

NOTLONGTILLMAY can shake up a few of the big guns in the Silviniaco Conti (2.07pm) at 9/2. He has done exceptionally well for one so inexperienced, his Festival and Paddy Power seconds confirming him borderline championship material granted just normal improvement. What we know is that he has his trip and ground, and that he comes here in absolute peak condition with this a long-established target. Edwardstone tries something different, Pic d’Orhy was unimpressive on his comeback, Banbridge looks plenty short enough.

NEMEAN LION can hump a big weight to victory in the Lanzarote (2.42pm) at 11/2. He was pretty unlucky not to finish a good bit closer in a super-hot Greatwood hurdle, but has been kept fresh since and, as such, is better at the weights with key danger Sonigino. This trip on a speedy track should eke out a bit more, and the yard are doing ok with what they’re running at the moment.

Saturday, Warwick

KYNTARA has not done improving, and can go in again in the Pertemps Qualifier at Warwick (1.49pm). Mel Rowley’s horses are running really well, and this one hasn’t looked back since rejoining her stable. He was impressive at Aintree, and the subsequent run of the second suggests the rise in the handicap is more than fair. He needs to be winning this to entertain thought of running in the final, so there’s a lot of upside here. 5/2.

APPLE AWAY can make the most of the weight concessions in the Hampton (2.24pm). Clearly rusty behind Grey Dawning on her seasonal debut, she was much better (albeit in a weak heat) at Leicester, where her slick jumping was particularly noteworthy. That – and her racing style – will stand her in good stead in what should be a pretty good test at the trip. 2/1.

GUETAPAN COLLONGES is taken to improve upon last year’s creditable effort in the Classic Chase (3.00pm). Although a fair way in Malina Girl’s wake at Cheltenham in November, that was a falsely run race for a marathon, with too many in contention before a relative sprint. That would not suit this thorough sluggard, who will surely get a much more favourable scenario here. The balance of his two runs this season suggests significant progress from last year. 7/1.

TOP VILLE BEN is a bit of a wild one to roll back the years in the rescheduled Veterans’ final (3.35pm) at 18/1. He hasn’t won for a couple of years, but shaped much more promisingly in the qualifier last time. It’s less than a year since he ran his socks off in a seriously hot handicap at the Dublin Racing festival from a higher mark, and his naturally exuberant style should be well suited to this track. A sharpish three miles is going to find a few of these out for a bit of pace, but not the selection, who will feel like he’s running loose with no weight less his rider’s claim.

Saturday, Wetherby

TRELAWNE may shake up the favourite in the Towton at Wetherby (1.10pm) at 3/1. I’d like to see Kim Bailey with a few more winners at the moment, but the price disparity is too large at the head of the market, given how sprightly the selection looked at Cheltenham in a hot race. This trip and track will be perfect and I’d expect him to get his rivals on the back foot early.