Andy Holding is back with six tips for today's Racing Action.
13:30 Kempton
FLEGMATIK (NAP) (best price 11-4) has performed creditably in all three races so far this season and, in what doesn’t appear to be the hottest contest on paper for the grade, he can gain due reward for his consistency.
Probably no better than fourth when swerving to avoid a faller at the last at Ascot back in November (causing his pilot to be dislodged), the nine-year-old found the necessary improvement from that outing to chase home the well-backed Your Darling at the same venue three weeks later.
Returning to the Berkshire circuit for his latest encounter, he stayed on well in the final half a mile to be a close third behind two improving sorts and with the time figure working best on the card, his performance gives a nod to his current wellbeing.
Just edged out of his biggest pot to date close home when last seen over today’s C&D last season, a repeat of that level of form should be good enough for him to get the better of Chianti Classico, who in any case comes from a yard bang out of nick.
14:07 Kempton
A trappy-looking renewal of this Grade 2 chase but NOTLONGTILLMAY (best price 9-2) has enough credit in the bank recently to suggest he’s worth an interest at the morning odds.
A high-class novice from last season, his best effort when chasing home Stage Star in the Grade 1 Turners Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Laura Mongan’s gelding ran right up to his very best form by being the only one to offer any resistance to his old foe at the same venue last time out.
Producing another solid time figure in defeat, the form of the race has already begun to take shape with the third and fourth going on to fight out the finish of a similar event back over the same course next time and considering the ground was plenty soft enough for him that day, his display must go down as a commendable one.
Arguably just as good, if not better going right-handed, the eight-year-old has an overall profile to suggest he will jump all over any drop off in form from his rivals.
14:24 Warwick
GREY DAWNING (best price 9-4) is unquestionably one of the most talented horses in today’s line-up and following an unlucky defeat at Cheltenham last time out, Dan Skelton’s grey is strongly fancied to atone back at a track that saw him register his most notable victory so far to date.
Since that Grade 2 success over hurdles here twelve months ago, the son of Flemensfirth has embarked on a promising career over fences and there is a case to be made that he could be unbeaten in his new discipline but for events panning out a little differently.
After the lack of an outing proved his undoing on chase debut at Exeter, he made mincemeat of the smart pair Gaillard Du Mesnil and Apple Away (reopposes) at Haydock and if it wasn’t for taking home the second last as a souvenir on his most recent outing, he would have surely accounted for a useful field at Prestbury Park.
Given the way he rallied up the hill after his untimely blunder 29 days ago, today’s step up in trip shouldn’t provide too much cause for concern and with the combination of a high cruising speed and smart turn of foot two potent weapons at his disposal, the seven-year-old is fancied to stalk and pounce late on.
14:42 Kempton
A classy renewal of this sought-after prize with so many plausible outcomes but there are strong cases to be made for both SONIGINO (best price 7-1) and SAMUEL SPADE (best price 12-1) going well, and they are taken against the field.
The former is very much one of the class acts of the field and there is an argument to made he could be one of the few that run here today good enough to dip his toe against graded opposition. That certainly looked to be the case at Aintree last time out the way he disposed of a quality field of handicappers under top weight and there’s been several who have come out of the race subsequently and boosted the form.
Good enough to finish a creditable fourth in the Greatwood previously and show sufficient stamina to see out 2m4f on bottomless ground last time, Paul Nicholl’s inmate has all the attributes to suggest he could go beyond his current mark of 143.
The latter has had this race as his main target all season and he couldn’t arrive here in any better form thanks to his smooth success at Taunton last time out. Admittedly the race at the west country venue wasn’t as taxing as the one he faces today but the way he went through the contest before quickening right away in the latter stages suggests he could easily take his game to another level.
A previous winner over today’s course and unexposed over this trip (stayed 2m3f strongly last time), Ben Pauling’s gelding can maintain his stable’s excellent recent run with their hurdlers.
15:00 Warwick
Just coming up short of Grade 1 standard twice after winning her Grade 2 here twelve months ago, the daughter of Saddler Maker suffered a surprising defeat at Newbury on her latest outing at the hands of a mare she should have beaten on paper but as that slowly run, tactical affair probably didn’t play into her strengths, she can be afforded to be given a pass.
Seen to better advantage when involved in races where the pace is far more generous – as her time figures indicate – today’s contest should prove right up her street and with cheekpieces on for the first time just to keep her mind on the job early, a prominent ride throughout can reap maximum rewards.
GALA DES LITEAUX – 1-point each-way@7-1
