Pencreek the one to beat in Stratford's final feature race of season as rain-softened ground could go against in-form Kauto The King

THE Class 3 Charlie Longsdon Racing Handicap Chase over a trip of just short of two-and-a-half miles is the highlight of today's (Thursday) final meeting of 2022 at Stratford, writes David Hucker.

Kauto The King has been in good form over the summer, winning three races on the trot before being well beaten by Texard at Uttoxeter.

He comes here fresh from a break, but would have to put up a career-best performance to win from a handicap mark of 131 and the rain-softened ground may go against him.

Pencreek, runner-up over course and distance in September, looks the one to beat.

Also a winner of three races over the summer, he started his run from a rating of 115 and ran from a mark of 132 when beaten by eight lengths by Geromino.

The form has been boosted, however, with the winner scoring again at Warwick before being beaten by a head by the classy Tommy's Oscar at Carlisle two weeks ago.

The seven-race card starts at 1.30pm with the Claire Dyson Equine Water Treadmill Conditional Jockeys' Selling Hurdle over two-and-a-quarter miles in which Floating Rock, winner of the race two years ago, reverts to jumps after a couple of runs on the flat.

Fourteen have been declared for the largest field of the afternoon, the British Stallion Studs EBF “National Hunt” Novices Hurdle, including promising Kempton bumper winner Gitche Gumee, trained by Alan King for leading owner J P McManus, and Nicky Henderson's Lingfield bumper winner Swapped.

Both have their first start over hurdles today, whereas Decorated has his second, having run with promise when runner-up to odds-on favourite Sir Tivo at Warwick three weeks ago.

The Get Raceday Ready Handicap Hurdle at 5pm, which brings the season to a close, sees Samatian try to follow up his win at the last meeting, although he may find the consistent Guguss Collonges, having his first run for trainer Roger Teal, a tough nut to crack.

• WARWICK's next meeting is the Stan Mellor Chase Day on Tuesday, 1st November. Named after the first jockey in history to ride 1,000 winners over jumps; the seven-race card, headlined by the Class 3 Stan Mellor Memorial Novices' Steeple Chase, gets under way at 1pm.