Paul Townend: Kemboy has tough task in Savills Chase
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Ladbrokes ambassador Paul Townend previews his five rides at Leopardstown on Tuesday.
He was a winner on the Flat in France. The two and a half mile trip shouldn’t be a worry. He does everything nice at home and we are hoping for the best on his first day out.
He lacks a bit of jumping experience, which some of the others bring to the table, but hopefully he can overcome that.
He has gone up 10lb from when he won here at the Dublin Racing Festival with Conor McNamara. That makes life tough for him. He has 11st 2lb on his back.
I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a couple at the bottom that are better handicapped than him, but if he can put his best foot forward I think he can run into a place at a nice price.
He made a huge impression when he came back in Punchestown and won under Patrick. It’s going to be a tough ask for him here. The opposition will be stiff with horses like Flooring Porter, who was so good in Cheltenham last season, but tipped up on his comeback run.
Sire Du Berlais is an ultra-consistent horse and Abacadabras steps up to three miles for the first time, which is interesting. So we won’t be getting it all our own way, but Klassical Dream stamped his dominance on the three-mile division last season and hopefully he can do the same.
Kemboy loves Leopardstown. He is a multiple winner round there. The trip was just too sharp for him behind Allaho the last day, when he finished eighth. He ran OK for a while but they quickened away down the straight.
A Plus Tard is the obvious one here along with Delta Work, with Jack Kennedy back on board, who loves the track as well.
Janidil probably surprised everyone to run Allaho so close in the John Durkan, with Melon third and Tornado Flyer fifth.
But, after we saw what Tornado Flyer did in the King George, that form is looking really good now. I’ve gone with Kemboy and I will have to stick with him now and see what happens.
He was very progressive all last year, finishing off winning a Grade 1 over three miles in the Punchestown Festival after winning the Martin Pipe in Cheltenham. He schools really well and does everything nicely at home. I think he is going to make into a lovely chaser.
