KINGSMARK can give Penrith trainer Martin Todhunter the biggest success of his career in the Whitbread Gold Cup that brings the curtain down on a traumatic jumps season at Sandown tomorrow.
Todhunter may be little known outside Cumbria but in Kingsmark he has atalented chaser who has already chalked up notable wins at Haydock and Aintree among four victories so far this season.
After completing a hat-trick in the Grade Three Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase at Haydock in November, Kingsmark was made a hot favourite for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
Despite having his favoured soft ground, Kingsmark simply fail to fire that day and could only finish sixth to King's Road in the Newbury showpiece.
However, the Hennessy has already produced the winners of two major races this spring in Martell Grand National victor Red Marauder, who was fifth at Newbury, and Scottish National hero Gingembre, runner-up to King's Road.
Kingsmark warmed up for a crack at the £125,000 Showcase Handicap with an impressive win at Aintree three weeks ago.
Given a brilliant ride by Mick Fitzgerald, he led on the bridle approaching the final fence and strode away on the run-in to slam Paperising by 10 lengths.
Conditions seem sure to suit Kingsmark who will also find this three miles five and a half furlong trip in his favour.
His owner Robert Ogden can also take the preceding ladbrokescasino.com Championship Chase with Fadalko, who showed he was in top form with victory at Aintree too.
His success came in equally sensational style by 16 lengths from Lady Cricket. That was over two and a half miles but this drop to two miles in a Grade One event that replaces the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the lost Cheltenham Festival should not handicap the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old.
Aintree form could also hold the key to the Coral Eurobet Championship Hurdle as Barton advertised his claims when returning to his best in the Martell Aintree Hurdle.
His 14-length demolition of Best Mate was an incredible performance especially in the appalling conditions and Tim Easterby's runner will be hard to beat in this Grade One heat.
Flat enthusiasts are also well catered for at the Esher track with three competitive contests headed by the Group Three cantorindex.com Classic Trial.
This 10-furlong event usually provides important clues to the Vodafone Derby with last year's winner Sakhee finishing second to Sinndar in the premier Classic.
Asian Heights can book his ticket to Epsom and justify connections paying £8,000 to enter him for the Derby two weeks ago.
Asian Heights, winner of his only start as a two-year-old by half a length from Wannabe Around (a winner at Epsom on Wednesday), must have been delighting connections in his work.
He can score for trainer Geoff Wragg, who won this race with Pentire in 1995.
Water Jump looks another winner for in-form Arundel trainer John Dunlop in the ripon-races.co.uk Conditions Stakes at Ripon.
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