The end of the flat turf season is rapidly approaching but there is still plenty of decent quality action on the all-weather at Kempton this week.
Thursday’s eight-race card includes some interesting handicaps that are worth having a close look at. Nurseries are notoriously difficult to unscramble but I like the look of Dark Wave in the 6.15 for Ed Walker.
He showed very little in his first three starts but was given a peach of a ride by Graham Lee to win at Redcar when stepped up to a mile last time out. He weaved his way through horses and only needed to push his mount out to win by a length and three-quarters. He has a 6lbs penalty but must go well if he adapts to this surface.
There are many dangers including the top weight Dutch Portrait who was not far behind the progressive Rosalie Bonheur at Salisbury last time. Prince Of Paris is another improver who looked slightly unlucky when beaten under top weight here last time.
Moonfaarid is making his handicap debut for Mick de Kock in the 6.45 and could get off the mark against some modest opposition. He and Zain Empire are the least exposed in the field and he may just have needed the run when beaten here last time. He moved up menacingly to make his challenge turning for home but his effort petered out behind The Steward.
The winner is strongly fancied to follow up for Sir Mark Prescott in the following race at 7.15. He looked beaten early in the straight but rallied strongly. If Moonfaarid goes well in the 6.45, The Steward could look very well handicapped. Prescott’s team are just hitting form with several winners in the past couple of weeks. The danger may well be Barnmore who is a regular fixture at this meeting and won well last time out.
My final bet of the day is on the top weight Peace Accord in the closing race at 9.15. I had intended supporting Aragosta for James Fanshawe and Hayley Turner after their unlucky defeat at Wolverhampton last time. I am just swayed by the fact that Peace Accord is going back up to seven furlongs after finding six too sharp at Pontefract. He was just too far out of his ground that day to complete his four-timer but should be more at home over this trip.
Dark Wave 6.15 @11-1 BetVictor
Moonfaarid 6.45 @6-1 Bet365
The Steward 7.15 @85-40 BetVictor
Peace Accord 9.15 @4-1 Betfair
