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GET READY for one of the deepest slogs in the mud you are likely to see in 2023, apart of course from the Welsh National in 12 months’ time. 

The name of the race is the Warwick Classic Handicap Chase which takes place this afternoon at 3.00, with 14 brave chasers set to go the full distance of 3m5f and not forgetting the all-important 54 yards.

As with the other chief betting race of the day, the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (Kempton Park, 2.40), Paul Nicholls is likely to have the market leader here in the form of Threeunderthrufive alongside the Willie Mullins’s raider Mr Incredible.

The Irish entry was last seen when a well-backed 7/1 shot in the Handicap Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas.

However, he had no chance of showing his true worth that day, being brought down at the fourth obstacle.

Rated 2lbs higher in the UK off 142, this will be only his eighth start under rules, a sixth over fences, and he remains open to significant improvement unlike the majority of his rivals.

Staying has always been likely to be his game, but has refused to race, been brought down and pulled up on his last three starts over fences.

The Paul Nicholls’s charge has always looked like an out and out stayer and only got as far as the first fence in the Premier Handicap race at Newbury and hasn’t been seen out since then.

In this deep ground the steadier of 12 stone will take some carrying to victory, and I much prefer the each-way claims of NESTOR PARK (nap).

Ben Pauling’s team have been in red-hot form lately and this lightly raced 10-year-old looks more than fairly treated on his third of nine to No Cruise Yet over three-and-a-half miles at Haydock Park first time up.

In addition, his racing weight of 10st 12lbs will be a massive asset on this ground, and he is preferred to the two market leaders and the strong staying Grumpy Charly.

GALOP DE CHASSE is to take advantage if bottom weight in the two-mile handicap chase at 1.15.

The selection will get 25lbs from the top weight Third Time Lucki, and that could be enough to claim this prize in these conditions.

COMPLETE UNKNOWN (nb) should relish the searching ground in the Grade Two Hampton Novices Chase at 1.50, while the Grade Two Leamington Novices Chase at 2.25 may well go the way of outsider MEXICO.

The latter event looks one of the best renewals for some time. Moon Hunter has looked very classy on his two winning hurdling starts at Wetherby and Doncaster, but I just feel he may prefer slightly better ground.

Givega and Knowsley Road are both respected, but the selection looks huge value at around the 20/1 mark.

Of course he has plenty of ground to make up on course and distance form with Ginny’s Destiny.

However, he raced quite freely that day and may just settle better in this better race. Since then the Stuart Edmunds’ charge has hacked up at Southwell and this thorough test will suit him perfectly and he could surprise.

Over at Kempton Park the feature hurdle is once again an ultra-competitive renewal and the Lanzarote will take plenty of winning.

The bookmakers will have their eyes on the Charles Byrnes-trained Green Glory who hacked up in a novice handicap hurdle at Leopardstown in December, having previously looked as though a stiffer test of stamina would suit him.

A 15lbs hike obviously requires a lot more in a better race and I just wonder if he will be able to deal with the likes of outsider Whizz Kid and DUBROVNIK HARRY.

The last named has always been well-regarded by Harry Fry and was a massive eyecatcher in the big Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race at Sandown Park last season.

Since then, the selection has undergone a wind operation and ran well on his comeback run at Exeter over 2m3f on ground which didn’t really bring his stamina to the fore.

This extra two furlongs on proper winter ground will be much more his port of call, and if you can garner a double-figure price about him, then he should reward each-way followers.

It is a valuable card at the Sunbury-on-Thames track with the Grade Two Silviniaco Conti Chase at 2.35 being the highlight.

Pic D’Orhy is likely to go off favourite here and backers will quickly know their fate over the first two fences. However, I think he is vulnerable either way to the classy SAINT CALVADOS.

The Paul Nicholls-trained charge was third in the 2021 King George behind Tornado Flyer here, and this deeper ground at a shorter trip should be right up his street.

Newbury winner Paint The Dream should also play a part, but I think he is a significantly better horse going left handed and in particular at Newbury.

At the other race meetings I shall also be having an interest in the likes of RICHMOND LAKE (Wetherby, 1.22), TADREEB (1.45 at Lingfield) and finally CAYD BOY (2.12) in the valuable two-mile handicap chase at Fairyhouse.

The last named was rated as high as 149 over hurdles, but races off 135 here. His two runs over fences this season have been satisfactory and I am expecting Simon Torrens to keep hold of him that little bit longer than he did over the course and distance six weeks ago.