Our daily double features a 6/1 shot with a 1pt advised stake.
14:30 Bangor on Dee
Count Of Vendôme
Best price 11/10 at the time of publishing.
Count Of Vendôme brings a seriously progressive profile into this and looks the one they all have to beat at Bangor. Lightly raced last season with just two appearances, he made one of them count when landing a bumper in February, and he has continued on an upward curve since switching to hurdles.
He shaped with plenty of promise when narrowly denied on his hurdling debut over this course and distance on his seasonal return — a run that can be marked up given it came after a break. He then confirmed that promise in emphatic fashion next time, bolting up in a Class 4 by 13 lengths and putting the race to bed with authority.
His overall record under rules reads well — three wins from five starts — with his only defeats coming in strong company, including a solid third in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham Racecourse. That level of form gives him a clear edge in a race of this nature.
While today’s heavier ground poses a slightly different test, there’s nothing in his profile to suggest stamina will be an issue. With an in-form jockey aboard and a trainer who knows how to place his improving types, he looks primed to follow up.
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18:40 Kempton
I Am Me
Best price 5/2 at the time of publishing.
This looks a competitive heat on paper with Top Of The Class both dangerously treated, while the four-year-olds Penfolds Grange and Apache Green still have scope to progress. But preference is for I Am Me, who arrives with solid recent course-and-distance form in stronger company.
Since joining his current yard this winter, the four-year-old has run three times and shaped well on his last two outings, finishing a close third on both occasions over this 8f track and trip. His latest effort came in a deeper handicap than this and the form stacks up well in the context of tonight’s race.
He runs here off the same mark, which looks workable given the level he’s been competing at, and the low draw is another positive around Kempton. With his stable hitting form since those recent placed efforts, everything points to another big run.
Dropping slightly in class, holding proven C&D form and still lightly raced for his age, this could be the right opportunity to get back in the winner’s enclosure.
