‘They might be tempted’: Skelton’s Kabral Du Mathan targets Fontwell springboard to Festival

We have another busy weekend ahead of us on the racing front and whilst the Irish racing is pointing us towards the Grand National, with the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, the racing in Britain could provide some useful form pointers ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.

Kempton’s card in particular should be of interest, as the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle has produced a few Triumph Hurdle winners in the last 20 or so years. Their feature race is the Ladbrokes Trophy, which might have some bearing on the Festival handicaps.

There’s plenty to consider across the weekend but we’ve picked out some of the key races to watch, for those who already have one or two eyes on Cheltenham.

Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) - 1.45 Kempton (Saturday)

Recent history suggests there are perhaps some better Triumph Hurdle trials around but you don’t have to go back too far to find horses who went on to win both races. Penzance, Soldatino and Zarkandar all achieved the feat within the space of five years.

This year’s event appears to be a two-horse race and French import Precious Man would be the most likely candidate to pull off the double. He was runner-up on stable debut at Cheltenham and went one better in good style over course and distance last time out.

Harry Derham’s One Horse Town looked like a serious Triumph contender but he blotted his copybook when easily beaten at Cheltenham in December and another Dan Skelton horse, Maestro Conti was too good next time. The four-year-old did beat Precious Man in November however.

Dovecote Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) - 3.00 Kempton (Saturday)

Billed as a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle trial, it doesn’t usually end up having much bearing on that race, in fact Flown was the last horse to complete the double back in 1992. However, we might have a live Triumph Hurdle candidate amongst the field.

Four-year-old Mustang Du Breuil won on debut over hurdles for previous connections at Auteuil in November and won well at Doncaster on his first start for Nicky Henderson earlier this month. Victory here would surely put him right in the mix at Cheltenham.

There isn’t a great deal between Double Measure, who was an impressive winner at Huntingdon, and Harry Derham’s Klub Du Reve. The latter scored nicely over course and distance on Boxing Day and is preferred out of the two on that evidence.

National Spirit Hurdle (Grade 2) - 2.50 Fontwell (Sunday)

Fontwell’s biggest race of the year is technically a Stayers’ Hurdle trial, although only two horses have ever won both, and My Way De Solzen was the only horse to have won both in the same season. Only one potential runner has a solid chance of repeating the feat.

Dan Skelton’s Kabral Du Mathan emerged as a serious contender for the Stayers’ Hurdle with an impressive victory in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham last time out. Connections have stated a preference of waiting for Aintree but if he bolts up, they might be tempted.