The Close Brothers Handicap Chase is the headlining fixture of Saturday’s UK horse racing.
The Kempton fixture features a massive field that has some real quality in it.
This is a 3m test of stamina at Grade 3 and there are 18 declared runners for the fixture.
It’s CAP DU NORD who is the current 6/1 favourite to take the spoils* (betting odds recorded at 21:01 GMT on February 26th, 2021).
Last year’s winner of this popular race was MISTER MALARKY from a 9/1 SP (Jonjo O’Neill Jr. / C L Tizzard)
Close Brothers Handicap Chase Odds
Cap Du Nord 13/2
Al Dancer 7/1
Clondaw Castle 10/1
Black Corton 9/1
Fingerontheswtich 9/1
The Butcher Said 11/1
Slate House 12/1
Southfield Stone 10/1
Double Shuffle 12/1
Romain De Senam 14/1
Mellow Ben 14/1
Erick le Rouge 20/1
Aso 18/1
Young Wolf 20/1
Mister Malarky 28/1
Talkischeap 25/1
Délire D’Estruval 66/1
* (betting odds recorded at 21:01 GMT on February 26th, 2021)
Horse Racing Betting at William Hill
Table of Contents
- 1 Cap Du Nord the 6/1 FAV
- 2 Can Double Shuffle follow up a C&D score?
- 3 Slate House to strike at a favourable distance?
- 4 Al Dancer capable of stepping up
- 5 Does Southfield Stone have a surprise in him?
- 6 Others to note
- 7 Predictions & Tips for Close Brothers Handicap Chase Racing Odds
- 8 William Hill Free Bet Boosts
- 9 Key Terms & Conditions
Cap Du Nord the 6/1 FAV
What a field we have here and CAP DU NORD is the current 6/1 market leader to get the win* (betting odds recorded at 21:01 GMT on February 26th, 2021).
He has just been on the up and up recently and scored three races ago. That victory was secured in a big field at Newbury.
On a follow up to that, Cap Du Nord was over course and distance in December when he found only Royale Pagaille too good for him.
The latest run he had was in the Skybet Chase at Doncaster at the 3m trip last month and again turned out an excellent performance to take third.
Cap Du Nord easily gets on the shortlist as that has been three excellent efforts from three tough handicap fixtures in this sphere.
Can Double Shuffle follow up a C&D score?
Now making for a very interesting entrant in this Close Brothers Handicap Chase betting market is DOUBLE SHUFFLE at 12/1* (betting odds recorded at 21:01 GMT on February 26th, 2021).
He collected a score at course and distance in a handicap 7 weeks ago on his latest run.
Now that form has since been franked, piquing further interest in Double Shuffle.
There has been a 5lb rise for him to deal with as he comes back into action.
But if he is anything near the kind of form that he showed here last time out, then he could easily have a saw for a strong place finish.
Double Shuffle is one to consider for the shortlist at Kempton on Saturday.
Slate House to strike at a favourable distance?
SLATE HOUSE is good enough to have a say in this one as well. He will be looking to follow up on a third-place finish at Wincanton last time out.
He made a mess of a jump in that one ruining any shot that he had of getting the score, but he went very well for a long way in that one.
Slate House is well treated here in what will be his second effort since wind surgery. The 9-year-old was the winner of last year’s Feltham here at Kempton.
Another go here at a course that he likes along with the move back to this distance is likely to play to his favour.
Slate House is a 12/1 contender in Close Brothers Handicap Chase odds* (betting odds recorded at 21:01 GMT on February 26th, 2021).
Al Dancer capable of stepping up
AL DANCER opened the new season with a victory and then he pushed his form forward further on his next trip.
That was at the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November in which Al Dancer was a third-place finisher.
The next challenge he had after that was the Caspian Caviar at Cheltenham and he struggled to get himself into that one.
But there have been promising signs elsewhere from him this season and he comes in to take on the challenge of a 3m trip for the first time.
That’s a very interesting move because he looks like one who can handle the test.
Does Southfield Stone have a surprise in him?
SOUTHFIELD STONE enjoys a trip at this venue and therefore could have something about him as a 10/1 shot* (betting odds recorded at 21:01 GMT on February 26th, 2021).
He picked up a win on his latest run which was 49 days ago as the 11-year-old delivered course and distance handicap success.
The nice thing about that from Southfield Stone’s perspective is that the form has been franked since.
Therefore a 5lb rise for him may not keep him out of this one.
Southfield Stone has had a couple of good efforts at Kempton and the Paul Nicholls charge does have something in him.
He recently won a jumpers’ bumper on the all-weather here on his latest action.
At the end of the day, the Close Brothers Handicap Chase is wide open. Can Southfield Stone force his way in?
Others to note
CLONDAW CASTLE has had a good season. He finished the previous campaign in fine style.
Clondaw Castle has been putting out some credible efforts in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham and Kempton. He goes to 3m for the first time.
ROMAIN DE SENAM takes a big hike of 10lb after a score at Musselburgh on his latest run, which was his debut for David Skelton.
Romain De Senam’s yard is in form and while this is a tougher ask, he’s not without claims.
ASO is better than most of his form this season has shown. He has placed twice before in the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival but it’s been a difficult year and a half for him.
But there was a renewed promise with a second-place finish at Warick on his latest.
THE BUTLER SAID won a couple of 3m novices in summer last year. He was in the Skybet at Doncaster on his latest run.
He didn’t have enough to hang in there and faded away for a sixth-place finish. Since that run, he has had a wind op which could perk him up.
Predictions & Tips for Close Brothers Handicap Chase Racing Odds
Our first selection is 12/1 shot SLATE HOUSE who has performed well at Kempton before.
He may easily have been heading into this on the back of a win had he cleared the final fence at Wincanton on his latest run.
He’s proven on the track and the move to 3m looks right in his wheelhouse, so we think Slate House has a big chance here.
The improving CAP DU NORD can’t be ignored for the fixture at all because he is developing into such a good chaser.
He s going to easily go on to bigger things in his career he follows this trajectory.
Cap Du Nord is a 6/1 selection* (betting odds recorded at 21:01 GMT on February 26th, 2021).
We are a little torn between AL DANCER and DOUBLE SHUFFLE for our final shortlist selection. But the latter gets it because of a course and distance win last time and piques plenty of interesting despite coming up 5lb.
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