Tag: all-weather

Hawkesbury the star attraction at Kempton

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There is plenty of racing in the UK for punters on Wednesday with jump meetings at Newbury and Newcastle and all-weather action at Lingfield and Kempton.

Both Newbury and Newcastle must pass early morning inspections but are expected to go ahead. That does at least tell us to expect very testing conditions which may be partly responsible for a disappointing turnout for Newbury’s 1.45 race.

I have been a fan of Far West over the past couple of seasons following his exciting juvenile campaign which ended in defeat in the Triumph Hurdle. He laboured under a stiff handicap mark last season as a result and is gradually getting the hang of things over fences. He looked to be in trouble here at the last meeting, losing ground at most of the fences before rallying on the flat. In the end, his flat speed proved too much for Seventh Sky.

Tomorrow he faces a really progressive chaser in Top Gamble, trained by Richard Lee. Strangely for a horse that fell in his last two races over hurdles, the gelding jumps like a stag and has been very impressive at Wetherby and Warwick. If Jamie Moore is positive on him from the start, I can see Far West struggling to keep in touch. Nicky Henderson should chalk up another couple of winners in the novice events but the odds are likely to be prohibitive.

John Gosden sends a couple to Lingfield and should be on the mark with Nancy Astor at 2.25. She ran a couple of nice races here, notably when chasing home stable companion Falling Petals last month. She is entered in a couple of Tattersalls sales races at Newmarket in April so will need to win a race like this if she is to follow that route.

You don’t get too many horses rated in the 100’s on the all-weather at this time of year but Godolphin send Hawkesbury to Kempton for a Conditions race at 6.40. The grey son of Shamardal looked pretty smart when winning by seven lengths at Doncaster in June but was beaten on both of his last two starts.

He hung badly at Newbury behind Belardo and pulled hard before weakening at Newmarket. He is clearly very talented but his ungainly style of racing is a concern. Even so, he should outclass his three opponents before connections map out a plan for the season.

My only other bet on the Kempton card is Thomas Blossom in the 5.40. He laughed at his rivals last time out and it is no surprise that Patrick Charmings has decided to run him quickly under a 6lbs penalty. David Probert should be able to settle him in this big field and come with a late run.

Top Gamble 1.45 Newbury @7-4 Paddy Power

Nancy Astor 2.25 Lingfield

Thomas Blossom 5.40 Kempton @11-10 Paddy Power

Hawkesbury 6.40 @4-5 Betfair

Kempton Thursday Preview

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The National Hunt racing is modest on Thursday ahead of the big weekend meetings at Sandown but the all-weather flat action continues at Kempton.

Jockey Luke Morris recently chalked up a career best tally for the year when surpassing last year’s tally of 168 winners. He could not be described as a stylish jockey by any stretch of the imagination but he gets the job done. He must also be a nightmare for the handicapper to read while trying to assess his winners, particularly those late developing three-year-olds of Sir Mark Prescott.

Morris should be on the score sheet again on Thursday on hat-trick seeking Vaguely Spanish in the 6.45 race. The son of Oratorio is trained by Tony Carroll and showed previous little until finishing an unlucky fourth at Brighton in October. He got off the mark at Windsor later the same month when bursting through late off a modest handicap rating of 49.

The handicapper put him up only 3lbs and Luke Morris did the steering on him when following up at Wolverhampton last month. He looked in a tricky position turning for home but responded gamely when pulled out wide and beat Gracefully by half a length. He is only up a further 3lbs here and the opposition looks extremely weak.

In the earlier maiden races I like the look of Richard Fahey’s Star Of The Stage at 5.45. The son of Invincible Spirit has missed the break on both of his starts so far, running on strongly at the finish to take third here last time out.

He races in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud so will be expected to pay his keep. The danger could be Stamp Of Authority who was still going strongly in the lead at the furlong pole over seven here last time out. He faded close home to finish only fifth but this drop in trip should see him go close.

You don’t often see runners in maiden races here that have finished second at Ascot first time but that is the case with Ajmal Ihsaas in the 6.15. Marco Botti is stepping the filly up two furlongs here but she could be a little better than your average maiden winner. Rock Kristal appeared to resent racing in a hood last time for John Gosden and could pose the main threat without the headgear.

Star Of The Stage 5.45 @2-1 Betfair

Ajmal Ihsaas 6.15 @4-5 Betfair

Vaguely Spanish 6.45 @11-8 Paddy Power

Lingfield Wednesday Preview

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The victories of Farraaj and Slade Power on Saturday rescued us after a tough week at rain swept Newmarket. Farraaj was tipped at 12-1 so I hope a few of you were on before his price shortened into the miserly 6-1 SP return.

I haven’t enjoyed the best of luck at Sandown over the years so I’m steering clear of tomorrow  night’s card and concentrating on the all-weather at Lingfield. This track is all about being in the right place on the home turn. Horses that run wide can lose too much ground and it is a deceptively short straight, especially if the leaders are still quickening.

Jockey Adam Kirby has made great strides in recent months and he partners the hat-trick seeking Annaluna in the two mile handicap at 3.10. She is nothing out of the ordinary but has looked as game as a pebble in winning her last two starts at Chepstow. In both races she had plenty of time to chuck in the towel as challenges came at her.

She is well in at the weights and my only concern is that Kirby keeps her on the pace on this course. If he can kick on before the turn, she may be hard to pass and Aiyana looks the most likely threat. Hughie Morrison’s yard is not in great form so I’m siding with Annaluna to make it three on the trot.

The Paul Kelleway Memorial Classified Stakes at 3.40 revives memories of “Pattern race Paul”. If you are familiar with the phrase “Tilting at Windmills”, that was often the accusation levelled at Kelleway with some of his more ambitious entries. He often had the last laugh with the likes of Swiss Maid and Media Luna.

My fancy for this race is the impressive Kempton winner Tenor. Like Farraaj on Saturday, he is up 9lbs but won with such authority that he is worth another try. The favourite is Knavery but he was not entirely convincing first time out, even if he did come up against a handicap good thing.

Finally I’m going for Clear Mind to continue John Gosden’s great run. She tracked her stable companion Seagull at Newmarket on her debut and didn’t quite have the pace to get to him. Nicky Mackay was on board and didn’t give her a hard time and she can win for William Buick at 4.40.

Annaluna 3.10 Lingfield @5-2 Paddy Power

Tenor 3.40 Lingfield @11-2 BetVictor

Clear Mind 4.40 Lingfield

Lingfield Friday Preview

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Lingfield stages the All-Weather Championships on Friday with a seven-race card offering excellent prize money. I am not a particular fan of the all-weather and I’m not convinced that this meeting with improve the level of competition. Dubai World Cup night it is not but you have to applaud them for trying.

At the last big meeting here we had hopes of a double with Grandeur and Ertijaal. Unfortunately the former let us down as Ryan Moore was unable to get cover from his wide draw. Both horses are back for more and have been treated much more kindly by the draw on this occasion.

Ertijaal has drawn four in the 3-year-old championship as he bids to follow up his course and distance victory over American Hope. The winning margin was only a head that day but it is worth remembering that he was drawn 13 and was having only the third run of his life. In the circumstances he did well to hang on under a determined drive from Paul Hanagan. Talk of a tilt at the 2000 Guineas seems to have been shelved and I see no reason to desert him here.

I am not quite sure what to make of Grandeur after his disappointing defeat last time. I had concerns, not just because of his being drawn in the car park but also the fact that he was fitted with cheek pieces for the first time. Ryan Moore felt that he had been lazy when hitting the front on his previous start but it is impossible to say whether they had any effect.

Robin Hoods Bay seized his opportunity to win well and Rebellious Guest continues to run well for George Margarson. John Gosden’s winning machine struck on the opening day of Newmarket with a double and he relies on Dick Doughtywylie. I’ll stick with Grandeur who should be able to settle nicely from stall 2.

Roger Charlton has faith in Captain Cat despite being edged out by Robin Hoods Bay last time. The five-year-old son of Dylan Thomas was on a few short-lists for the Lincoln at Doncaster but Charlton withdrew him due to the soft ground. He could be worth a bet in the mile race with his form working out nicely.

Perhaps the toughest race on the card is the Sprint with many old favourites joined in combat once again. I’m not convinced that Hawkeyethenoo is completely in love with this all-weather lark while Stepper Point goes beyond five furlongs for the first time. It may be worth taking a chance with Valbchek for the Noseda and Moore combination at the available odds.

Lingfield

2.55 Ertijaal

4.05 Valbchek at 7-1 Coral

4.40 Captain Cat at 6-1 Ladbrokes

5.20 Grandeur at 5-2 Bet365