Philip Hobbs` smart chaser Captain Chris may well bid to redeem his slightly tarnished reputation and book himself a place in the starting line-up for the Cheltenham Gold Cup when tackling the Grade 3 Racing Plus Chase at Kempton on February 25, writes Elliot Slater.

The three-mile contest formerly known as the Racing Post Chase has attracted a strong entry of 47 horses at the initial stage and Hobbs is seriously considering running his star at the Sunbury circuit, a place where Captain Chris has generally performed very well in the past. Last season`s Irish Independent Arkle Chase winner ran poorly on a return visit to the scene of his greatest triumph when eventually pulled up behind Midnight Chase in the Grade 2 Argento Chase at the end of last month, clearly running as though something was amiss, jumping violently out to the right in most uncharacteristic fashion. Those following the Cheltenham 2012 betting will have been shocked to say the least.

Hobbs has had the eight-year-old thoroughly checked out by a team of vets and no obvious problem has come to light, so connections are hoping that it was just a case of a `bad day at the office` and the gelded son of King`s Theatre will return to something close to his best at Kempton, a track where he performed with plenty of credit on Boxing Day when third in the historic Grade 1 King George VI Chase won for the fifth time by the mighty Kauto Star.

A market drifter prior to his dismal subsequent outing at Cheltenham, Captain Chris was duly pushed out in the Betfair Gold Cup Betting, having been on many people`s short-list as a potential surprise package in the blue riband contest. Only a very good run at Kempton would now be enough to secure Captain Chris a place in this season`s Cheltenham Gold Cup line-up.