Hi all,
Three seconds on Sunday but no winner so it was a poor day at the coalface.
There are jump cards at Hereford and Plumpton this afternoon. Racing is back on the beach at Laytown. And there are all-weather fixtures at Kempton and this evening at Wolverhampton.
It’s an excellent card at Kempton for a Monday afternoon. The feature race of an eight-race card is the Listed, perhaps wrongly named as it’s been run during the afternoon, Floodlit Stakes (3:05). The following race, London Middle Distance Series Final Handicap (3:40) isn’t too shabby either.
A rare Monday with selections then for me. Not sure how many there will be between now and Friday so watch your inboxes.
Kempton
3:05 – Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Floodlit Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 4f
Hamish beat Hukum in the Group 3 September Stakes over C&D. Classy on his day and a worthy favourite but he was below his best form when only 4th of 10 to Trueshan in Long Distance Cup at Ascot last time.
Dubai Future won a 1m 6f handicap at Meydan in February before finishing runner-up in a Group 2 and doing as well as could have been expected when a 5-length 5th of 9 to Mishriff in the Group 1 Sheema Classic at Meydan last time. First run since but likely to be fit enough to do himself justice.
John Leeper looked a nice middle-distance prospect when winning the Listed Fairway Stakes at Newmarket in May. He didn’t build on that promise on his next three starts but wasn’t disgraced when a 3 ¾ lengths 3rd of 4 in a Listed race back at Newmarket last time. A winner on the tapeta at Newcastle on his sole all-weather. The first time cheekpieces are applied today which means an improved performance could be forthcoming from the 3-year-old.
Shandoz has a bit to find on Official Ratings with the likes of Hamish & Dubai Future. A progressive 1m 4f handicapper last season winning twice at Ascot last season. The 4-year-old returned from 12 months off the track with a cracking effort when a neck 2nd of 9 at Lingfield last month. He was doing his best work at the finish at Lingfield and could go close here on track that should him better.
1pt win – Shandoz – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – John Leeper – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:40 – Marching Army won over C&D last time. He’s up 5lb for that win but has only had six career starts so there may be more to come from the 3-year-old.
Party Island has a good record on the polyrack with two of his four all-weather wins coming here, including over C&D. First run for 113 -days. He’s 4lb higher than for his last win and in better race but still has claims.
Pistoletto won over C&D, with a bit more in hand than ½ length margin of victory suggests, last time and must be respected off just 4lb higher. Andaleep was 1 ¼ lengths back in fifth in that race and gets a 6lb pull here. He’s since run too bad to be true at Bath but a return here could see a better performance and he can get into the places.
0.5pts win – Andaleep – 12/1 – Gen
0.5pts win – Party Island – 17/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Plumpton
2:45 – Eleven have been declared for this 0-140 handicap hurdle. The market is headed by recent Uttoxeter maiden hurdle winner The Bomber Liston. There should be more to come from the 5-year-old on his handicap debut.
At the prices I prefer the claims of the Suzy Smith trained Debestyman. The 8-year-old’s sole win came in a novice hurdle over C&D in January 2019. He’s been lightly raced since, just the seven starts in the past two seasons. Had looked booked for success in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle in January 2002 when blundering and unseating rider at the last when 3 lengths clear of the eventual winner. Just the three starts last season. The best of which was a 2-length 2nd of 19 at Cheltenham last October. No great record fresh but he races off a mark he can be competitive off and can get into the frame.
0.5pts each way – Debestyman – 12/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook (both paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John