Perouse for a prize scoop

However, the skill of Paul Nicholls allied to the fitting of a tongue strap have seen him make relentless progress over the last two months

The first clear sign that Perouse was on a roll came in a handicap at Wincanton, where he sluiced in off a mark of 112 under Joe Tizzard.

Ruby Walsh took over in the saddle when he defied a penalty at Fontwell the following week, while it was a similar story at Cheltenham four days later when he sprinted clear of Shalako and the subsequent Ladbroke Hurdle winner Thesis off a mark of 119.

Not surprisingly, the handicapper was beginning to take offence by this stage.

Perouse had been hiked to a mark of 130 by the time he returned to Cheltenham for a well-contested handicap on New Year's Eve.

It duly proved a shade more than he could cope with, but he ran the race of his life to finish a clear second behind the rejuvenated Demi Beau and left Walsh convinced that he would have won had he delayed his challenge.

Needless to say, with so much prize money on offer there are plenty of dangers.

Greenhope is still lightly raced over hurdles and returns to Kempton in top form according to Henderson, though his exuberant frontrunning style will be harder to carry off in this tougher contest.

Hawadeth produced a powerful late surge to chase home the Henderson-trained Non So in this race last year and should go well again, while Kadount is progressing fast after beating a subsequent winner with ease at Leicester and is almost certainly open to further improvement.

But who's to say that Perouse has come to the end of his progress?

Granted, he'll need to stay at the top of his game having been raised to a mark of 137, but he's by no means badly treated.

The way Perouse travelled at Cheltenham last time suggests this sharper track will pose him no problems.

The fact that Walsh is aboard again is another major plus and, in a race which should be run to suit him, Perouse looks a a rock-solid each-way proposition.

Punters will have to deal at much shorter odds to side with Lord Sam in the britishhorseracing.com Novices' Chase, but don't let that put you off.

In short, Victor Dartnall's gelding has the potential to take very high rank among the staying novice chasers this season.

Memories of his clumsy hurdling technique were dispelled when he gave 13lb and a handsome beating to the smart Bal de Nuit at Huntingdon in November, while a fluent defeat of Native Emperor at Lingfield was equally impressive.

A clear round will make him very hard to beat tomorrow.

Kempton selections: 12.50, Lord Sam; 3.40, 1 Perouse; 2 Kadount; 3 Hawadeth.