CONDITIONS look ideal for Bimsey in this afternoon's Pertemps Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. The two mile hurdle course at the Sunbury track is one of the fastest in the country and firmish ground will put the emphasis even more on speed.

That is most unlikely to suit the smart pair Dato Star and Zabadi both of whom really need plenty of give in the ground to be fully effective at this trip.

But Bimsey will be in his element.

Conditions were very similar when he lined up at Aintree last November and he proceeded to turn a competitive handicap into a procession, routing his rivals and scoring by no less than 12 lengths.

A reported back injury delayed his return to action this term until a fortnight ago when he was asked a stiff question in taking on Large Action in the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Yet he showed himself better than ever in running half a length second to the dual Champion Hurdle placed gelding, travelling strongly from the off until found out by the stiff uphill finish.

Bimsey will be seen to even better effect on a flat track today and can outspeed his rivals.

Belmont King's trainer Paul Nicholls can gain some compensation for the abandonment of Chepstow's Coral Welsh National by landing the Pertemps City Network Handicap Chase with Five To Seven.

His gelding ran a fine race when a close second under 11st 8lb at Lingfield last time and looks well treated off bottom weight here.

Tullymurry Toff has done nothing but improve of late and he should defy the handicapper once again by scoring his fifth successive victory in the closing Good Job Handicap Hurdle.