'He's turned a corner' - Christian Williams chases big prize with three chances

Coral Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 5yo+ | 3m ITV/RTV

Christian Williams fields strong chances in both the feature handicaps on Saturday, with Potters Corner and Win My Wings on duty at Newcastle in the Vertem Eider Chase, while he is three-handed at Kempton.

Bookmakers are only single figures about both Five Star Getaway and Cap Du Nord but Williams refuses to write off the chances of Kitty's Light, who was at the heart of the incident which saw Enrilo lose the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last April but whose most recent effort here in January was far from encouraging.

"He's turned a corner the last few weeks," said Williams. "He's looking well and did a great piece of work last week.

"I just wonder whether three miles round there will be sharp enough for him but it's good prize-money, while one of his career highpoints was at Chepstow over three miles so you can't discount him."

Five Star Getaway arrives with much better recent racecourse form to his name, having beaten last Saturday's Ascot winner Fortescue over this course and distance over Christmas.

"He seems well and he's a classy horse at home," said Williams. "Kempton suits him and hopefully he'll handle the quicker ground. We're looking forward to him."

Cap Du Nord was fifth in this race 12 months ago and produced a decent effort to be third in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster last month.

Williams said: "His form took a step in the right direction last time so hopefully he's coming back to form."

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Lalor and Enrilo
I think Lalor is crying out for three miles and he's another of mine that a flat track and decent ground will suit very well. He's a high-class horse and if he runs like he did in the Paddy Power, he's got a leading chance. We thought Enrilo had a massive chance in the Ladbrokes Trophy and he fell when travelling well. We ran him back too quick at Cheltenham. We've kept him for the spring when he's a better horse and the idea is this race and the Bet365 Gold Cup again with a run in between. Hopefully he'll run well.

Harry Fry, trainer of Phoenix Way
He's won over three miles when hurdling and Kempton is a flatter track than Ascot. We're 6lb higher for winning the last day so we'll find out whether he's up to the task or not. We won this a few years ago with Opening Batsman and it's a nice prize to have a go at.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Zanza
The one question mark is his disappointing run last time but we think it was just down to the very holding ground at Cheltenham. When he was a youngster he didn't really want soft ground. He's got the cheekpieces on as he did at Cheltenham which I hope will mean he travels a bit better. Hopefully three miles around an easy track is his right trip.

Zanza has been aimed at the Coral Trophy by Philip Hobbs, who has won the equivalent race four timesCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Evan Williams, trainer of Annsam
We definitely wanted to aim at this race. He could have gone up to Doncaster for the Sky Bet Chase but the ground wasn't what we wanted so we've waited. He's a big strong horse and, while you can do anything you want on him, he seems to enjoy going forward.

Sam Thomas, trainer of Our Power
I'm looking forward to running him. It's his first run over three miles but if you're ever going to find out, it's best to do it in a big race. We go in there with an each-way chance providing his jumping holds up and he gets the trip. He's a nice laidback character and he goes in there with a bit of a squeak.

Nick Williams, trainer of Galahad Quest
The way he's been running gives hope he'll stay. He's getting older but it is slightly into the unknown. If they go a real end-to-end gallop that might play against us, who knows? He was second to Buzz in a hurdle at Taunton and we're not worried about him going right-handed. Because people save their horses for Cheltenham this can be a valuable race that isn't always that tough. I think he'll be fine and normally going up in trip has benefited our horses.

Gary Moore, trainer of Zhiguli
Three miles is not usually his game but we reckoned going this trip on good ground around Kempton would be better than going two and a half somewhere else on bad ground. He has an each-way chance.

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 Kempton: is 'thorough professional' Knight Salute the most underrated horse in training?

2.05 Lingfield: 'He's shown the old spark' – Lord North takes on Alenquer in Winter Derby

2.25 Kempton: 'A flatter track will suit' – Paul Nicholls confident Pic D'Orhy can bounce back

3.00 Kempton: hot favourite Shallwehaveonemore needs to up his game says Gary Moore

3.15 Newcastle: trainer quotes and expert insight for the Eider Chase

4.18 Fairyhouse: last year's Grand National third and fourth go head-to-head in Bobbyjo Chase

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