Uncertainty over Post field

The final make-up of the field for Saturday`s Racing Post Chase is unlikely to become clear until the final declaration stage.

Uncertainty surrounds the participation of many of the 19 horses who stood their ground for the Stg£90,000 contest at Monday`s five-day stage.

Top-weight of 12st is currently allocated to Irish raider Commanche Court, who finished second to Young Spartacus in the race 12 months ago.

But trainer Ted Walsh has indicated it is 'unlikely' that his charge will travel over for the race, with just three weeks to go before the Cheltenham Festival.

Commanche Court`s absence would leave Ad Hoc at the head of the field but he too is unlikely to run in that case.

Ad Hoc holds an alternative engagement in the Country Gentlemen`s Association Jim Ford Chase at Wincanton on Thursday, but may miss both events and wait for Cheltenham.

Ad Hoc`s owner Sir Robert Ogden also has the Philip Hobbs-trained Enrique in at Kempton and he is more likely to take his chance.

Norman Mason`s pair, Red Striker and Red Ark, have a host of possible options between them over the weekend.

Ground conditions will ultimately decide their targets, with Red Ark a possible runner in the two-mile betabet Emblem Chase on the same card as the Racing Post Chase.

After a dry day at Kempton, the going at the track is now good, good to soft in places.

One horse who is firmly on course for Kempton is Paperising, with whom trainer Nicky Richards will break new ground in the race.

Paperising, the 13-2 joint-favourite with the Tote, is reported to be in 'grand order' ahead of the big race.

It will be a first runner at the track for Richards, who has been training at Greystoke, Cumbria, since the death of his father Gordon in 1998.

Venetia Williams has Mr Baxter Basics and Trouble Ahead in the race, but the Ross-on-Wye trainer is another keeping her cards close to her chest.

'It`s too early to be sure of what`s happening,' she said today. 'A lot of my horses have multiple entries and we`ll be making our minds up nearer to the time.

'It`s certainly going to be a busy weekend for us at any rate.'

On the betting front, Ferdy Murphy`s Occold was all the rage in the ante-post markets today and now trades at 8-1 with the Tote, having been 14-1 this morning.

Tote betting: 13-2 Paperising, Red Striker, 7-1 Tremallt, 8-1 Ad Hoc, Occold, 9-1 Lord of the River, 10-1 Mr Baxter Basics, Trouble Ahead, 11-1 Commanche Court, Goguenard, 12-1 Cadougold, Gunther McBride, Red Ark, 14-1 Enrique, Luzcadou, 16-1 Dulas Bay, 20-1 Dark Stranger, Eau De Cologne, Storm Damage.