Towcester Preview: Kalimantan poised to follow-up

Kalimantan won with tons in hand last time out and looks a worthy odds-on shot to follow-up under a penalty in the 2m handivap hurdle at Towcester today (3.10).

The Tim Vaughan trained colt failed to cut any ice in three novice hurdle runs but made a mockery of an opening handicap mark of 80 when bolting up at Chepstow eight days ago.

The four-year-old travelled strongly throughout the 2m1 1f contest, and after after being produced at the last quickened clear to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Kalimantan won with his head in his chest and was value for far more than the winning margin,and it’s no surprise to see connections turn him out quickly under a 7lb penalty before the assessor has his say.

The well-bred son of Azamour was a fair sort of the level when trained in France by Jean-Claude Rouget, and looks still potentially mile ahead of the handicapper.

With the Vaughan stable in red-hot form, and the prospect of further improvement to come, this looks a penalty kick for Kalimantan.

Royal Etiquette has been in good form on the level this season, and looks on a potentially handy mark in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle (4.10).

The gelding has only had four starts over hurdles, but hinted that there could be better to come in the last of those at Huntingdon back in March 2013.

Since then the seven-year-old has been campaigned on the flat, and Royal Etiquette showed himself in good heart on his penultimate start at Windsorn when easily landing a 1m 4f amateur riders’ handicap by five lengths.

If able to translate that form to the obstacles, then Royal Etiquette should be up to making a real impact in this weak looking class 5 contest off a mark of 92.

In the 3m 1f handicap chase (4.45) dual course and distance winner Jolly Boys Outing is weighted to take all the beating on the pick of his form.

The Rosemary Gasson trained gelding is on a long losing run having not scored over course an distance back in March 2012 when beat Craiglands by 11 lengths off a mark of 97.