Guide aiming to shine in BetBright

Cue Card's galloping companion Theatre Guide bids to be the star of the show in the BetBright Handicap Chase at Kempton on Saturday.

While Theatre Guide is playing a crucial role at Colin Tizzard's stables in Cue Card's preparation for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, he is a decent horse in his own right.

A good performance at the Sunbury venue could see him book his place in one of the handicaps at next month's Festival.

Theatre Guide has had the misfortune to come up against a bang-in-form Smad Place, a likely rival of Cue Card's, in both the Hennessy Gold Cup and Cotswold Chase this season.

However, Tizzard believes the nine-year-old has a good chance of hogging the limelight

"He's also in two races at Cheltenham, but he'll run here first. He's been second in the Hennessy and this is the right race for him," said the Dorset handler.

"If Smad Place wasn't in the Hennessy, you'd be looking at a Hennessy winner now. He's a good horse and he works with Cue Card every morning. I thought he was a bit closer to him the other day.

"Hopefully he'll put in a good, clear round as he's at the right end of the handicap. If he comes out of that well, he'll go to Cheltenham."

Rocky Creek attempts to become the first horse since Docklands Express in 1991 and 1992 to land back-to-back victories in this race.

Trainer Paul Nicholls is fitting the 10-year-old with blinkers for the first time as he was disappointed by Rocky Creek's tame effort in the Denman Chase at Newbury just two weeks ago.

"We will run Rocky Creek with a pair of blinkers on. The track suited him at Kempton last year and better ground will help him," said the Ditcheat handler.

"He just didn't go at all at Newbury. I was mortified really as he had been going well, but he is obviously a bit sulky.

"Whether the blinkers have the same effect as on Silviniaco Conti, we will see, but I've always thought he might want them."

Rocky Creek's stablemate Ruben Cotter won over the course last March, but will be having his first race since finishing fifth to Rajdhani Express in the Topham Chase at Aintree in April.

"Ruben Cotter won a consolation race at the track on the day after the Cheltenham Festival last year," said Nicholls.

"He ran really well in the Topham. He goes well fresh and has got a nice weight, but it is a tough ask for him first time out."

Ziga Boy has won his last two starts in the style of a progressive staying handicapper.

A smooth scorer at Doncaster in December, Alan King's seven-year-old returned to the South Yorkshire venue last month to take the prized Sky Bet Chase.

"Ziga Boy has been in really good form of late, he's really turned the corner," said Dan Downie, racing manager for owners Axom.

"I can't see why Kempton wouldn't suit him, he likes a flat track and despite his size, he's quite nimble and is a good jumper.

"This is a different level altogether, though, he's coming up against a different calibre of horse.

"Saying that, I'd rather be doing that with a horse on the improve, like he is. This will tell us how good he is.

"As for Aintree, we all think that might be a year too soon."

Though King believes Ziga Boy prefers going left-handed, he does not think he will be inconvenienced running the other way round.

"Ziga Boy defied a 15lb higher mark to win the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster, where he clearly relished the better ground," the Barbury Castle trainer told www.alankingracing.co.uk.

"He has gone up another 9lb for the BetBright Handicap Chase so things now get tougher and, though I am not convinced that he will be so effective going right-handed, he has won around Wincanton so he should be OK."

Runner-up 12 months ago, Le Reve turns up on the back of a victory at Sandown three weeks ago as he seeks to go one better.

"He's very well and has come out of it his win at Sandown in great form," said his trainer Lucy Wadham.

"Obviously he ran a very good race in the same race last year.

"He's off quite a high mark now, but we're still very much hoping for a good run."

Harry Fry has two interesting candidates in Opening Batsman, the winner in 2013, and progressive young chaser Thomas Brown.

"Opening Batsman will try to relive his former glories," said the Seaborough trainer.

"He's in good form with himself and the drying ground will definitely help him. Liam (McKenna) takes off a very handy 7lb, so he's virtually no weight on his back.

"He seems to enjoy Kempton and he's back on the same mark he was when he won it three years ago. Hopefully he'll give a good account of himself.

"Thomas Brown is almost identical to what Opening Batsman was the year he won it.

"He's novice chaser on exactly the same mark as Opening Batsman when he won. He too will appreciate drying ground.

"He's got the cheekpieces back on that worked for him over hurdles, so we're looking forward to him taking his chance. He's a nice, progressive youngster on an upward curve."

Tom George won the race twice with Nacarat (in 2009 and 2012) and believes Roc d'Apsis has the right profile.

"He won nicely last time at Kempton and he loves the track there," said the Slad handler.

"I'm sure he'll really appreciate the better ground. He's been having to run in the winter on very soft ground.

"He's got enough pace for two and a half and I think he'll get the three miles. We are going into unknown territory a bit, but personally I think three miles on good ground will be his optimum.

"Paddy (Brennan) committed himself to Theatre Guide a long time ago, so we've booked Richard Johnson.

"We've had our successes in this race and so has Richard. Let's hope the two of them get on well together."