16:26 Kempton

Leg 1 Selections: Irrelevant, Palazzo Persico 

IRRELEVANT is a standout choice in the opener, who won by five lengths in his only previous start at this course and should be competitive having done well to finish where he did last time in fifth from a poor track-position. PALAZZO PERSICO came close to succeeding at Chelmsford just over a fortnight ago though and has only been nudged up a couple of pounds, which is lenient, so he is feared most. 

17:00 Kempton

Leg 2 Selections: American Bay, King’s Valley

The form of AMERICAN BAY’s latest third has been positively advertised since and the switch to this surface could yield even further improvement. He can go well, while KING’S VALLEY has made the frame in two of his three starts and his rating also puts him firmly in the mix with improvement on the cards. One of these two should be good enough to at least place. 

17:30 Kempton

Leg 3 Selections: Encourager, Rakki

ENCOURAGER fared very well from a poor draw when nearest the finish in fifth over course-and-distance three weeks ago and should improve from a better draw this time. RAKKI has a lovely pedigree, and is nicely drawn in stall 2 on debut for the Alan King yard. It would come as no surprise if he turned out to be above-average, so he’s a definite choice for the shortlist. 

18:00 Kempton

Leg 4 Selections: Britannica, Daydream Express

BRITANNICA is slightly proving expensive to follow and has returned a beaten favourite the last twice. That said, she could improve for the switch to the all-weather and will be reunited with Oisin Murphy who rode her to finish third at Newmarket. DAYDREAM EXPRESS stayed on well to take third on debut at Newcastle, shaping with great promise, and this expensive purchase is sure to be thereabouts. 

18:30 Kempton

Leg 5 Selections: Lumiere D’or, Catherine Parr

Form-wise, there isn’t much to go on in this contest but LUMIERE D’OR ran a solid race on debut at Southwell when second and although the winner has subsequently been beaten in a Group 2, this daughter of Too Darn Hot could be hard to keep out of the frame from the inside stall. I’ll cover the former with the well-bred CATHERINE PARR. 

19:00 Kempton

Leg 6 Selections: Brasil Power, Animate 

While a lower draw would have been preferred, BRASIL POWER, the mount of William Buick, is unbeaten in two starts at this course and won very comfortably here last-time-out. This is undoubtedly a tougher assignment but he likes it here and has an excellent jockey on his back, so he should feature. ANIMATE is also included.