Tom George’s Nacart emerged as a surprise winner at the Racing Post Chase on Saturday, surging to a 9 length victory over a strong field.

Nacarat was expertly guided through the tough race by Tony McCoy, who had it won with three fences to go. The win will be a big boost for McCoy ahead of his attempt to win his first ever Grand National on Butler’s Cabin.

Daly Possol finished the Racing Post Chase 9 lengths behind Nacarat, while pre-race favourite Big Fella Thanks was only able to clinch third place for Paul Nicholls.

“I am really pleased to train a horse like this and I am grateful to the owners for sending him to me - he has down us proud today,” George said to Sky Sports after the race. “The change in him from when he arrived from France has been enormous. He was narrow and angular when he came over and has taken a while to fill out and furnish.”

“I thought he was very good and did enter him in the King George, which some people laughed at me for. He won’t go to Cheltenham as he doesn’t like racing downhill. Aintree is a possibility but I just want to enjoy today.”

Renfrewshire trainer, Jim Goldie, is confident that his Racing Post Chase entry, Endless Power, has what it takes to win one of the year’s biggest handicaps at Kempton Park this weekend.

While William Hill have priced Endless Power a 25/1 longshot, well off the odds offered on the likes of Big Fella Thanks and Fleet Street, Goldie believes that his entry’s recent results speak for themselves.

“I think he’s in the form of his life, he’s certainly been improving anyway,” Goldie told The Herlad. “He won the Grand Sefton then put up a career-best over hurdles last time.”

One of the things that sets Endless Power apart from the rest of the Racing Post Chase field is his record over the tough fences at Aintree. Endless Power has a win at the Aintree Festival and also won at Aintree in November.

“Kempton’s a flat, galloping track, just like Aintree, and he has been right-handed before at Carlisle,” Goldie said. “The handicapper has him 4lb higher in the Grand National, so really we are well-in. We have booked Robert Thornton and he hasn’t ridden for me since he was an amateur many years ago.”

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s a step up in trip but the ground will be fine. We’ll be riding him fairly positive again and, hopefully, we’ll see out the trip.”

Paul Nicholls’ Big Fella Thanks has leaped to the head of the Racing Post Chase betting markerts after his win in the Sky Chase Bet Handicap in January.

“The past 24 hours have seen Big Fella Thanks backed off the boards,” said David Williams, of the Magic Sign. “His Doncaster win coupled with bullish reports from the Nicholls’ camp have combined to tempt punters into a good old-fashioned plunge.”

Big Fella Thanks price has shortened to 3/1 ahead of Saturday’s Racing Post Chase. Nacarat and Possol, his two closest rivals, are both priced over 10/1 by William Hill.

A win at Kempton Park this weekend could see Big Fella Thanks soar up the betting market for the 2009 Grand National. Weight won’t be an issue for Paul Nicholls’ entry in the National, and a strong performance at Kempton would convert many punters.

Big Fella Thanks won 2 out of 3 starts over hurdles before moving to fences, where he has since taken 1 win and 3 places in 5 starts.