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Our horse racing columnist Paul O’Brien takes a have a look at the runners and riders for the floodlit assembly at Kempton.
Acquired No {Dollars} (4.45pm, Kempton Park) @ 2/1
This six-year-old gelding has beforehand been run over six and 7 furlongs and is all the time within the fray however does not fairly get the job performed at that distance. He noticed a marked enchancment in type when tried over a mile at Chelmsford in October and November, and a win at Kempton on January 10 in his final run, when he rode prominently and stayed on properly inside the ultimate furlong.
Because of that win his handicap mark has been elevated and he is had a three-pound improve in weight however this should not forestall him for having back-to-back wins.
Completely Timed (5.15pm, Kempton Park) @ 11/8
It’s important to sit up and listen when coach Archie Watson and jockey Hollie Doyle workforce up on a horse making its second look.
The pair scored three wins at Royal Ascot final 12 months, and Doyle has ridden over 200 winners for the Lambourn coach. This three-year-old colt was solely sixth on her debut at Southwell on January 5, when he was slowly away and regardless of making up some floor was by no means a menace. Main enhancements are anticipated as we speak and he ought to land this.
Lord Chamberlain is an fascinating challenger on its debut and is value maintaining a tally of the costs and if there’s sufficient worth may very well be a doable E/W facet guess.
Mr Swivell (5.45pm, Kempton Park) @ 2/1
Got here fourth on debut a month in the past at Southwell (second was Belcamo) however wasn’t ideally positioned that day, after a sluggish begin was quickly in contact with the leaders however was saved on the within within the ultimate furlong and simply missed out on third place.
Ought to enhance on that earlier efficiency and reverse the shape on rival Belcamo this time spherical. There are a few fascinating newcomers to keep watch over on this race, Remonstrate (which may very well be value an E/W punt if the value is correct) and Coppersmith.
Aspire To Glory (6.15pm, Kempton Park) @ 3/1
This three-year-old gelding was an also-ran in seven races in 2023 however has come alive previously two months with the assistance of promising apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes who scored again to again wins at Kempton and Lingfield. The handicap mark has solely elevated barely because of these wins and he’ll solely be carrying an additional pound as we speak (3/2/24).
The second-place horse Run Pleasure Run the final race at Lingfield has gained since at Kempton, which additional reveals his high quality, and so a repeat efficiency ought to see Aspire To Glory full the treble.
Ultramarine (6.45pm, Kempton Park) @ 7/2
I used to be at Kempton on January 6 to see Ultramarine’s emphatic win and you could possibly have celebrated early and not using a fear as he got here in by almost two lengths. Since then this five-year-old gelding put in a great second at Chelmsford on January 11 earlier than a disappointing eighth two weeks in the past (20/1/24) at Lingfield.
Clearly he did not carry out properly in that newest look and might want to put a line by means of that however the earlier two performances present his functionality and due to that poor run it is best to be capable to get a reasonably respectable value for an each-way guess ought to the market drift. Not a win guess.
Graphite (7.15pm, Kempton Park) @ 17/2 e/w
This 10-year-old gelding Graphite had success in France with its profession greatest being a Group 3 victory at Chantilly method again in 2017. While not fairly reaching that stage on these shores, he has been a constant performer in English handicaps.
Third of ten final day trip at Southwell on December 29 however was held up initially and was too far again to get in competition with the highest two. He was runner up in earlier two races at Wolverhampton and Kempton however at this considerably longer distance he may show that you would be able to train an outdated horse new methods, and with a great worth value he is properly value an E/W guess.
Aidan Andabettin (7.45pm, Kempton Park) @ 10/3
This three-year-old gelding gained final time over the identical course and distance on January 17. That is his first handicap race and a gap handicap mark of 74 appears lenient and with jockey Daniel Muscutt within the saddle once more, he’s a powerful contender for again to again wins.
Strongest opposition ought to come from Media Shooter who got here third at Lingfield on January 20.
Zooks (8.15pm, Kempton Park) @ 8/1 e/w
4-year-old filly Zooks was disappointing in her three hurdling appearances on the finish of final 12 months, and solely managed fourth of six runners in her UK flat handicap debut at Chelmsford on January 13.
On that day she led many of the method however wasn’t capable of finding one other gear within the ultimate furlong. Consequently she has now been dropped 3lbs within the handicap score (65) and going up in opposition to solely in opposition to different fillies gives an opportunity for a critically improved efficiency. Positively value an each-way guess from a bookmaker who’s paying as much as three locations.