Hi all,
My first selections of the week and I have previewed two races from Kempton & Warwick in today’s main piece.
The best of today’s action where the feature race is the London Sprint Series Final Handicap (7.00) which has £80,000 in guaranteed prize money and has attracted a maximum field of 12.
Kempton
7:00 – Unibet London Sprint Series (Final) Handicap – 6f
Top weight Prop Forward won a series qualifier over C&D in April before finishing 3rd of 6 at Goodwood in May. First run for 187 days but his last two wins have come off breaks of 251 days and 213 days, so he’s probably best caught fresh. Better on the all-weather than turf and will take the beating if at his best.
Fresh was 4 ¼ length 5th of 12 to Prop Forward in April but that was he’s first run for 117 days and he’s 9lb better of here. Hasn’t been operating at his best on turf this season but he’s down to a handy mark and the gets addition of the first time cheekpieces. Big chance back to his best albeit stall 11 isn’t ideal.
Aramis Grey’s C&D form line is 11222. The latest of those wins came here in November and she finished a head 2ndof 12 in last year’s race, from 3lb lower. Comes into the race in good form and if she gets a good pace to chase, won’t be far away.
Baldomero is on a losing run of 19 that goes back to March 2022 but three of his best four RPR’s have come in 2023. The 5-year-old returned from a 151 day break to finish a 1 ¾ length 3rd of 9 to William Twee 7 days ago. Will be sharper here and the cheekpieces return and looks competitively weighted.
Verdict: Prop Forward has a good draw in stall 5 and is the one to beat for an inform yard. His odds reflect his chance. Fresh has a wider draw to contend with but the first time cheekpieces makes him of interest and he’s on a good mark if the headgear has the desired effect. Baldomero will be sharper for last week’s C&D effort and the cheekpieces return.
Warwick
2:25 – There may only be eight runners but it’s an intriguing handicap chase.
Four of them Jet Plane, Latitude, Major Dundee, and Arizona Cardinal are last time out winners although only Jet Plane’s success has has come since May. He has race fitness on his side after winning at Newton Abbot last month. Needs to have improved again to defy a 6lb rise in a depper race but can’t be discounted.
Major Dundee won the Scottish Grand National (4m) in April so this extended 3m 1f could be on the short side for him on seasonal reappearance.
Both Latitude and Arizona Cardinal ended last season as handicap chasers on the up.
Latitude won his last two starts at Ludlow and Kempton with his Kempton success being a career best on RPR’s. Has a 9lb rise in the weights to deal but the step up to 3m improved the 7-year-old and he should progress for a further step up in distance. Big chance if ready roll after a 191 day break.
Arizona Cardinal made it 2-5 over fences when winning at Uttoxeter in May. The first of those wins came on seasonal return last October so he can win fresh. Starts the new campaign off 4lb higher but must enters calculations.
Top weight Bobhopeornohope gained a third success over fences when making all to win at Ludlow in December. All ten of the 8-year-old’s chase starts have come right handed, not sure why as he had won left handed over hurdles. Untried beyond an extended 3m but in a race short on front runners he can hopefully get into a good rhythm out in front. Yard among the winners and not ruled out.
Verdict: Arizona Cardinal can win first time up and was going the right way when last seen in action in May. Latitude is another who looked on the upgrade in the spring and he could be capable of better for a further step up in trip. Jet Plane has race fitness on his side and must be respected. Bobhopeornohope doesn’t have the upside of some of his rivals, but his yard is going well, and those ridden prominently are favoured around here. Bobhopeornohope is the pick and in an eight runner race I’m loath to put up two but I do like Latitude and the 4/1 available is tempting.
Betting Advice:
Kempton
7:00 – Baldomero – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Bet365 or 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Fresh – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Warwick
2:25 – Bobhopeornohope – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Cheers
John