Kempton Tips: Skelton’s Hatcher can land Veterans’ win

There are three UK jumps meetings taking place on Monday and, amongst them, will be action from Kempton Park.

They’ve got a seven-race offering from 12.45-16.00 that includes the Class 2 Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase over two-miles-four-and-a-half-furlongs at 14:25. The ground is forecast as ‘good’ for the meeting.

We’ve picked out a trio to follow at Kempton, including Hatcher for brothers Dan and Harry Skelton in the feature race.

13:15 Kempton – Stroll On By @ 11/4

Charlie Longsdon will have decent claims in the Racingtv.Com Novices’ Handicap Chase with recent scorer STROLL ON BY.

The son of Walk In The Park looked a touch rusty on his seasonal/chasing bow at Warwick (2m, good) in September but certainly showed the benefit of that outing when scoring decisively at Exeter (2m1½f, good) last month.

He jumped well in that contest, was always handily placed and, in the end, drew clear to score by some nine-lengths. The form was advertised by the only runner to emerge from the field since scoring at Ludlow on Thursday.

He’s rated some 9lb higher for this test but looks likely to appreciate the extra distance and has plenty of scope for further improvement. This is a Betfred Super Extra Place Race (four places) and Paul O’Brien’s partner should be right there when it matters.

14:25 Kempton – Hatcher @ 4/1

The Paul Nicholls-trained Danny Kirwan has top-weight in this Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase and could be sharper for his recent comeback fifth at Chepstow over further. He was always a horse from which more was expected and while he could well be good enough to land this, he is taken on.

The one best-placed to serve it up to him is Dan Skelton’s HATCHER. He is a seven-time winner over fences with a fine strike-rate of 24 per cent in this sphere.

He wasn’t at his best at Worcester in September when fourth of six, but he had shown decent form over the summer months at 2m-2m5f and the galloping nature of Kempton Park promises to suit him.

Good ground is another positive for Harry Skelton’s partner and he looks to be nicely treated off a mark of 123 for this opening foray into veteran company.

15:30 Kempton – Notnowlinda @ 5/1

Top-weight La Renommee for Dr Richard Newland and the Jeremy Scott-trained Petticoat Lucy have combined to win five of their last six starts but they are overlooked here in favour of NOTNOWLINDA for the Dan and Harry Skelton alliance.

The mare has finished second best on both starts this season since going chasing, initially at Warwick in September and then here over 2m2f last month.

She was favourite to prevail in both instances and was a little unfortunate to be hampered a couple of times in that most recent start.

The winner Arclight looks quite useful for Nicky Henderson and from just 1lb higher in the ratings and with the return to this trip her favourite, Notnowlinda could go one better.

Check out the rest of our Horse Racing Tips here.