Kim Bailey expects conditions in the £150,000 Coral Trophy Handicap Chase to be ‘absolutely perfect’ for Bobhopeornohope, who will bid to take the multiple Grade One-winning trainer on a trip down memory lane on Saturday (25th February) in the Kempton Park feature.
It is 31 years since Bailey celebrated the most recent of his two victories in the three-mile contest with the diminutive Docklands Express, who ran out the winner of the Premier Handicap in both 1991 and 1992 along with filling the runner-up spot in 1993 and 1994.
Although Bobhopeornohope has a long way to go to match those achievements the gelded son of Westerner enters the race on the back of a victory having opened his account for the campaign last time out around Ludlow in December. David Bass was is in the saddle for that success and takes the ride again in the Coral Trophy.
Bailey said: “Bobhopeornohope is in good form. After his run at Ludlow, where he had to tough it out to win, we earmarked coming here.
“He deserves to take his chance in a big pot like this. He seems to enjoy good ground and the track should be fine for him. We are keen to have a crack at it.
“His owners John and Penny Perriss have been big supporters of mine for a long time and they deserve a day on the big stage like this.
“He is a typical Westerner in that he is a bit quirky but clearly has ability as his record shows.
“The race should be absolutely perfect for him. It is just a question of whether he is good enough off what is a career-high mark of 142, but only time will tell if he is.”
While more than 30 years have passed since Docklands Express claimed the second of his two victories in the race it was his defeat in the 1993 renewal that brings back the most memories for Bailey.
He joked: “He was probably one of my last runners in the race!
“Docklands Express was a great horse. He was a small horse but he loved good ground and each year he ran in it conditions turned up right for him.
“He won the race in back-to-back years and they said if he won it for a third time they would name the race after him but he finished second! He then came back again in 1994 and finished second again.”
Sponsor Coral make Bobhopeornohope a 20-1 chance for glory on Saturday.
3:00pm Coral Trophy Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m
1 Frodon (FR) ts 11 12 0 Mr P. J. Vogt Paul Nicholls Bryony Frost
2 Saint Calvados (FR) ts 10 11 7 Mr David Maxwell Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
3 Clondaw Castle (IRE) 11 11 7 J French, D McDermott, S Nelson, T Syder Tom George Jonathan Burke
4 Killer Clown (IRE) ts 9 10 12 Burkes & Syders Emma Lavelle Tom Bellamy
5 Annsam 8 10 9 Mr W. Clifford Evan Williams Adam Wedge
6 Bobhopeornohope (IRE) ts, p 8 10 9 Mr J. Perriss Kim Bailey David Bass
7 Enrilo (FR) p 9 10 9 Martin Broughton & Friends 4 Paul Nicholls Angus Cheleda (5)
8 Our Power (IRE) p 8 10 8 Walters Plant Hire & Potter Group Sam Thomas Sam Twiston-Davies
9 Flegmatik (FR) ts, p 8 10 2 Mr N. W. Lake Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
10 Black Gerry (IRE) 8 10 2 Mrs M. Devine Gary Moore Jamie Moore
11 Jacamar (GER) v 8 10 2 Mark & Maria Adams Milton Harris Gavin Sheehan
12 Cap du Nord (FR) p 10 10 2 (5lb ex) The Can't Say No Partnership Christian Williams C. M. Quirke (5)
13 Killer Kane (IRE) ts 8 10 2 (5lb ex) Mr J. P. Romans Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell
Coral Trophy, Coral bet: 5-1 Saint Calvados, Annsam, Cap Du Nord; 8-1 Frodon, Our Power; 9-1 Clondaw Castle; 11-1 Killer Kane; 12-1 Killer Clown, Flegmatik; 20-1 Bobhopeornohope; 22-1 Enrilo, Jacamar; 28-1 Black Gerry
