Kauto Star Novices’ Chase Odds & Tips: Betfred offer 13/8 on Shan Blu – 26th December 2020

The Kauto Star Novices’ Chase is one of the big races from Saturday’s card at Kempton as racing returns from its short break with a bang.

This is a Grade 1 race over a demanding 3m trip at the venue. For this year’s renewal, there are 7 declared runners.

Heading up the market currently is SHAN BLUE as the favourite to get the score in the contest which is open to 4-year-olds and above.

The winner of last year’s renewal was 7-year-old SLATE HOUSE from a 3/1 SP (R M Power/C L Tizzard).

Kauto Star Novices’ Chase Odds

Shan Blue 13/8
The Big Breakaway 11/4
If The Cap Fits 4/1
Enrilo 7/1
One For The Team 12/1
Kalooki 12/1
Golan Fortune 33/1
* (betting odds recorded at 03:15 GMT from Betfred on Thursday, 24th December 2020)

Horse Racing Betting at Betfred

Will Shan Blue live up to the hype?

It is SHAN BLUE that will likely be the market favourite when the start of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase happens on Saturday. He is currently the 13/8 favourite* (betting odds recorded at 03:15 GMT from Betfred on Thursday, 24th December 2020).

It has been some blistering form from him this season already. He has been out twice for this campaign and has won both times. Those were both scores at Wetherby and the most recent one, back in October, was over a 3m trip.

Shan Blue demolished the field in that one, scoring a victory by 16l over Snow Leopardess.

It’s been stellar form from him on his move to chasing and he has produced some jumping form out of the very top-drawer. Shan Blue will likely take some stopping on the weekend.

Can The Big Breakaway raise his game?

THE BIG BREAKAWAY has been out twice this season as well. On his reappearance, he collected a win at Cheltenham in a novices’ chase.

From a mark of 4lb higher in the ratings he then followed up with a second-place at Exeter in early December.

The Big Breakaway didn’t actually run all that well in that fixture and was second in a field of only four.

He was a length and a half behind winner Bold Plan in that one having gone off as the strong 2/9 FAV. So that was a run that will have disappointed supporters.

The only thing to take away from that was that it was over a shorter distance and he may have found it too sharp.

He comes back up to the three miles which may bring just a little bit more out of him again.

The Big Breakaway is currently at 11/4* (betting odds recorded at 03:15 GMT from Betfred on Thursday, 24th December 2020).

Enrilo could come on strong for NIcholls

ENRILO came good over a 3m trip on his latest run which was in early November.

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding got that 3m chase trip at Exeter as the odds-on favourite. That built on a reappearance run in which he had rattled the crossbar at Chepstow.

Enrilo had been beaten by a neck in that reappearance run at Chepstow in October.

Twelve months ago he showed some good form at this time of the year, getting a Grade 2 win at Sandown in the Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle and then a third at the Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1).

With a couple of nice sharpeners under his belt, Enrilo could be applied from 7/1 as he will stay the distance* (betting odds recorded at 03:15 GMT from Betfred on Thursday, 24th December 2020).

If The Cap Fits could feature with improved jumping form

A very good hurdler but not yet so great over the fences is IF THE CAP FITS. If this was the same field going over the hurdles then If The Cap Fit would jump off the list because he is one of the best in the sphere.

The pick of his wins was a Grade 1 effort at Aintree last year. But he has yet to really get it together over the fences. This will be his third run of the season having been in small fields only.

If The Cap Fits won his reappearance run comfortably in a field of three. He followed that up with a run in a Listed race at Sandown where he was a distant second to Pym in a three-runner field.

At the moment he is a 4/1 punt but supporters may have wanted better proof of form over the bigger stuff from him* (betting odds recorded at 03:15 GMT from Betfred on Thursday, 24th December 2020).

Can One For The Team handle the move up in grade?

ONE FOR THE TEAM opened this season over the hurdles, scoring a third at Chepstow in a novice event. Then came the switch out the bigger stuff for the first time as he lined up in a field of five at Newbry.

That debut did not pan out well for him as he lost his rider. But One For The Team had been the favourite for the run. He stayed at the same mark for his second go at the fences which were back at Newbury.

Up at Grade 2 then he went fairly well to take the runner up spot behind Next Destination. We think that he well warrants some each way considerations at 12/1* (betting odds recorded at 03:15 GMT from Betfred on Thursday, 24th December 2020).

The rest of the runners

GOLAN FORTUNE picked up a win on his last run. That was a chase effort at Ludlow over a 3m trip, getting the better of the runner up by 9 lengths. It was his chasing debut but this is a huge step up in grade for him and will have a lot to find.

KALOOKI has had a couple of goes at the fences this season. On his reappearance, he claimed a win from a field of five at Newbury in a beginners chase. He followed that up with a third place in a Grade 2 fixture back at the track, where he was behind One For The Team.

Predictions & Tips for Kauto Star Novices’ Chase Odds

We can’t look past the threat of SHAN BLUE in this field at 13/8* (betting odds recorded at 03:15 GMT from Betfred on Thursday, 24th December 2020). He sets the standard and we don’t see enough in anyone else to go against him.

A useful novice hurdler last season he has just been jumping sublimely well over the fences this season. Shan Blue looks to be full of confidence and in great heart at the moment. So he is the top name on the shortlist.

We think that ENRILO has enough to get in the frame in this one as well after delivering a win as a favourite on a 3m trip at Exeter last time out. The manner of victory there suggested that there is more to come from him.

The final one for considerations is IF THE CAP FITS. He’s not the greatest of jumpers over the fences, but he retains some potential and one good clean run could be all that it takes to really propel him forward in this sphere.

Betfred Extra Place Offer

There is an Extra Place offer from Betfred for Saturday’s Kauto Star Novices’ Race. The operator is offering 3 places at 1/5 odds on the 13:50 Kempton.

Key Terms & Conditions

Applies to singles and multiple bets. 3 Places- If there are fewer than 6 runners standard place terms will apply. 4 Places – If there are fewer than 12 runners standard place terms will apply. 5 Places – If there are fewer than 16 runners we will pay 4 Places (1/5 odds). 6 Places – If there are fewer than 22 runners we will pay 5 Places (1/5 odds). Doesn’t apply to ante-post bets. Dead heat rules apply. See bookmaker for full details.

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