Who To Follow On ITV Racing On Saturday - 14/01/23

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Thu 12 Jan 2023 15.56

Kempton 14:05

Pic D'Orhy

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

N/A

Age: 8

Weight: 11-8

OR: 157

Days: 41

The feature race of the afternoon at Kempton on Saturday is the Grade Two Silviniaco Conti Chase and in a race that slightly flatters to deceive, Pic D'Orhy for Paul Nicholls could be the best of a bad bunch.

A horse Nicholls has always liked, the gelding really does know what he is good at and it is Grade Two/Three races similar to this.

Never going to be able to mix it with the best, he has gone through his career to date picking up races like this and although being a bit quirky at his fences, does have enough class to win this event.

Landing the Grade Two Noel Novices' Chase last season at Ascot, he then tried it in Grade One company at Sandown in the Scilly Isles and was well beaten by L'Homme Presse, finishing back in third.

Back into Grade Two company at Kempton over today's C&D he got back to winning ways in the Pendil Novices' Chase, beating Grade One winner Millers Bank.

He rounded off last season when being pulled up in that Grade One won by Millers Bank at Aintree, but staying in his lane so far this season he has been hoof perfect.

Landing an Intermediate Chase at Newton Abbot on seasonal debut over 2m5f, he then went to Huntingdon in the Grade Two Peterborough Chase over 2m4f and beat Millers Bank again.

He makes these sorts of races his own and we expect him to go close again.

Form: 31P11View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
14/04/23	AIN	20	Sft	11-10	1
18/02/23	ASC	21	GS	11-10	2
14/01/23	KEM	20.5	Sft	11-8	1
04/12/22	HUN	20	Gd	11-7	1
15/10/22	NAB	21	Gd	11-12	1

Paul Nicholls can continue his good run of form on Saturday across the ITV show with some very smart runners at both Kempton and Warwick.

At Kempton his best chance of the day looks to be Pic D'Orhy who is a proven performer at this level and having now looked to sorted out his jumping could be tough to beat.

Nicholls also at Kempton fields Enrilo who looked to be going well before falling last time out and then in the Lanzarotte has big chances with Outlaw Peter and Red Risk.

Over at Warwick he could go well again, starting in the Grade Two Hampton Novices' Chase with Complete Unknown who was taking on chase debut last time out.

Other runners for the yard at the Warwickshire track include Knowlsey Road in the Grade Two Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle and Threeunderthrufive in the Classic Handicap Chase.

Nicholls heads into the weekend heads into the weekend sporting a strike rate of 36% for the last two weeks, managing to land 13 winners from his last 36 runners.

Stan Sheppard has a nice book of rides on ITV at Warwick on Saturday, starting in the Grade Two Ballymore Leamington Novice Hurdle with Ginny's Destiny, who was a C&D winner last time out and can go close again.

In the Classic Handicap Chase, Sheppard jumps on 2021 Welsh Grand National winner Iwilldoit who makes his first appearance since that win and is only 7lb higher.

He is jockey that very much goes under the radar but has shown time and time again to have plenty of talent and could have a good day on Saturday.