Chris on course for Cheltenham

Captain Chris land the odds in the Grade Two Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton Park this afternoon.

Philip Hobbs' charge was sent off the 2-5 favourite to beat his two rivals in the extended two and a half mile contest and wasn't hard pressed to do so.

The seven-year-old, a close second to Medermit in the King Henry VIII at Sandown last time, is a leading fancy for both the Arkle and Jewson Novices' Chase at Cheltenham next month and will head to the Festival on the back of a first, confidence boosting, success over fences.

After exuberant leaps at the final two obstacles carried him 13 lengths clear of Adams Island (11-2), Sky Bet cut him to 8's from 10's for the Arkle and 6's from 8's for the Jewson.

American Trilogy was never a factor, jumping to his left throughout.

Winning jockey Richard Johnson said: "He's had three really good runs over fences and has finished second to two really good horses, so it's nice to get a win."

"To be fair to him he put down on me when I squeezed him so I just let him do his own thing as he was a bit brave at Sandown the last day."

"He was on his own in front a long time today but he's going the right way."

"Conditions weren't ideal today but it was just to give him more experience."

Hobbs said: "It didn't really tell us anything new, but it was nice to get a bit more experience into him."

"There were no negatives about that. We'll leave him in the Arkle and the Jewson, and we will probably make a decision as late as possible."

"The Jewson could be the easier race. I've got Wishfull Thinking for that, but I could run both because they have got the same owners."