Kempton Wednesday Preview

All-weather racing fans are in for some saturation coverage on Wednesday with sixteen races across Lingfield and Kempton.

The highlight of the day is the Listed mile race at 6.25 which has attracted a very strong field of 12. The probable favourite is Roger Charlton’s Captain Cat who comes out on top on official ratings after a tremendous season.

He has shown his versatility by winning on the all-weather and on the turf, most notably claiming a Group 3 prize at Haydock in September. He then stepped up to Group 2 company at Newmarket where he was beaten by an in-form Custom Cut. He ended his turf campaign with a respectable fourth in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in desperate ground.

William Haggas runs two here in Graphic and Her Majesty The Queen’s Prince’s Trust. I was a great fan of Graphic last season as he worked his way up the handicap but he has found it tougher in a higher class. He is still a rattling good miler but it is difficult to oppose Prince’s Trust after his second easy victory in three races.

The four-year-old son of Invincible Spirit won with a ton in hand at Yarmouth first time out and was backed to win a valuable race at Ascot despite a 12lbs rise in the weights. He proved very disappointing, weakening right out of contention behind Intransigent. He showed that form to be all wrong last time when beating that rival, again appearing to have plenty in hand. Intransigent boosted the form with a win at Lingfield last Saturday but Prince’s Trust needs to improve again to win this.

Tenor is another leading contender here having gone up almost 40lbs in the handicap this year. He won a Listed race at Sandown in September and ran a fine race to finish fifth in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket. Providing that the long season has not taken its toll, he must have each-way claims.

I also like the look of Andrew Balding’s Duretto in the earlier maiden race at 5.25. He ran an eye-catching race on his debut when second to Firmament at Newbury. He was blocked in his run and had to switch to the outside of the winner before finishing strongly. That looked a far better race than he faces tomorrow and he can take this on the way to better things.

Duretto 5.25 Kempton @10-11 Betfair

Prince’s Trust 6.25 Kempton @5-1 William Hill

Racing Preview Oct 4th

Charter (tipped at 11-2) and Telmeyd (2-1) got us off to a flying start at Ascot on Friday. Unfortunately Ryan Moore arrived a fraction late on Consign and the photograph also went against us with Marzocco.

Once again the race planners have given us an embarrassment of riches with Group race action at Ascot and Newmarket as well as day 1 of the Arc meeting. Having previewed the Arc separately, I am going to concentrate on the big races in the UK on Saturday starting with Ascot.

Muthmir has been a good friend to this column with victories at York and Doncaster this season. He has fully justified the belief that he is a potential Group class sprinter and moves up to Listed class in the opening race at 2.05. Predictably, the bookmakers are running scared after being hit by this horse in the past so he is no great value. However, rather like Tiggy Wiggy last week, there is no reason to desert him.

Prince’s Trust stands out in the big handicap and should provide a winner for Her Majesty The Queen. He hacked up at Yarmouth and his victims included Outback Traveller who won with similar ease here on Friday. The handicapper has given him a 12lb hike but Cam Hardie reduces that by 3lbs and Haggas looks to have saved him for this event.

I must also put in a word for my old friend Dungannon in the last race. He could never get to B Fifty One who flew out of stall 1 at Chester last time but this is Dungannon’s time of year. He is racing off 92, a mark that should see him back in the winner’s enclosure before the end of the season.

Over at Newmarket they are staging a couple of those big sales races. I can understand the concept to encourage people to buy at Tattersalls but the prize money dished out is quite obscene for the quality of the actual races. The first race wouldn’t be out of place at Nottingham on a Monday and yet there is £300,000 going begging.

I am going to take a chance with Invincible Gold in the 2.20 race. Strictly on the form book he shouldn’t beat some of these but I think he is a nice colt and the likes of Heartbreak Hero and Secret Brief could be over-rated. Ed Walker did us a favour with Dark Wave (tipped at 11-1 on Thursday) and he should give us a run for our money.

The same applies to Majestic Manner in the Oh So Sharp Stakes at 2.55. She caught my eye when running on well in a Windsor maiden and won nicely last time out after racing prominently. Her dam was useful and she could dent a few lofty reputations here.

Finally, I am going to go for Esoterique to win the Sun Chariot Stakes for France. Andre Fabre also runs Fintry and Guineas winner Miss France but I think Esoterique’s form is stronger.

Muthmir 2.05 Ascot @6-4 Bet365

Prince’s Trust 3.50 Ascot @11-2 BetVictor

Dungannon 5.00 Ascot @8-1 William Hill

Invincible Gold 2.20 Newmarket @12-1 Paddy Power

Majestic Manner 2.55 Newmarket @12-1 Coral

Esoterique 3.30 Newmarket @6-1 Sportingbet