Caribean Boy

15th-Jan-2022

I am giving Caribean Boy another chance in the three-mile handicap chase at Kempton on Saturday.  He is becoming expensive for us now, he got no further than the first fence in the Silver Cup at Ascot last time when we had him on side, but a lot of the reasons for backing him that day hold true for Saturday.

I think that the step up to three miles is key.  He was out-paced in a slowly run race in the Paddy Power Plate at the Cheltenham Festival in March before staying on late, and he was outpaced again in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November before keeping on late.

The slower pace of a three-mile chase should allow him settle into his jumping rhythm better, and you can’t blame him for his first-fence departure at Ascot.  He was just crowded out of it.  He had nowhere to land.

Nicky Henderson fitted cheekpieces at Ascot, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he fitted them again on Saturday.  I think that could be a positive, it could sharpen him up.  And he is down to a mark of 145, 9lb lower than his peak.  The step up in trip could enable him get back up to his peak again, and it looks like he is a definite intended runner, with James Bowen booked in Daryl Jacob’s absence.

CARIBEAN BOY WON (ADV 6/1, SP 9/2)

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