By Charlie McCann
There is a BetVictor sponsored flat card from Kempton this evening but the afternoon action is over the jumps. We start on the level and there is a good nursery over a mile tonight with top-weight Dutch Portrait sure to have his supporters returning to a mile for Paul Cole and jockey Jim Crowley. The Paul Cole-trained gelding wasn’t beaten far at Salisbury last time over 7f and the winner (Rossie Bonheur) followed up at Newmarket last weekend.
Dutch Portrait must go close but preference is for Ghalib (6.15) who is fitted with a tongue tie for the first time tonight having disappointed on his handicap debut over 7f at Lingfield. The selection is 3lbs better off with Dutch Portrait for the 2L he was behind the latter over 7f here back in August and he looked ready for an extra furlong when staying on stoutly at Lingfield last time.
Life And Times has an excellent draw in the mile handicap and is 3lb well better off having run a cracker when runner up at Wolves last weekend. That said he is often slowly away from the gates and might find his draw a negative if he finds himself behind a wall of horses. Marginal preference is for the lightly-raced Moonfaarid (6.45) who returned from a lengthy absence when third in a maiden over C&D last month. He had been gelded since his previous start and is entitled to come on for the run. Trainer Mike De Kock has pulled up few trees this summer but Moonfaarid gets the vote for the South African.
At Southwell Viking Ridge (3.35) can follow up last month’s Huntingdon success from an 8lb higher mark for Kim Bailey. The confident selection jumped out to his left when making a winning chase debut and this anti-clock wise track should be ideal. He has never tackled 3 miles before but he should appreciate the forecast good ground (wouldn’t want it soft) and could still be ahead of the handicapper. There are two other last time out winners in the field which should ensure his price doesn’t collapse and I would be disappointed if he didn’t make it 2 from 2 over fences with David Bass replacing AP McCoy.
Buy Back Bob (5.10) is a fascinating contender in the 2m Novice Hurdle having been backed in a Cheltenham Novices’ Handicap two years ago as if defeat was out of the question for Irish trainer Tony Martin. He was sold for only £6000 earlier in the year and has his first start for Tim Vaughan today. He receives weight from two previous winners Breaking The Bank and Germany Calling and the latter is considered the biggest danger but Vaughan had a well backed winner at Chepstow earlier in the week and, if the market speaks in his favour, I suggest we take the hint.
Gevrey Chambertin is the star on show at Bangor but will be no price against only two rivals in the 2m 4f Novice Chase. The grey has a perfect record fresh and as a brother of Grand Crus should make up into an exciting chaser. This looks an ideal starting point.
Donald McCain is having a frustrating time of things of late but his King‘s Grace (4.00) is unbeaten in four starts at Bangor and he can make a winning return although I’m not convinced he is exactly the best handicapped horse in training. Stablemate Dunowen Point runs in the same colours of Tim Leslie but Jason Maguire rides the selection who obviously reserves his best for the North Wales track.
At Warwick I will give Trafalgar (4.20) another chance off bottom weight in the 3m Handicap Chase for Dan Skelton. The selection used to be trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and won a soft ground chase off a 6lb lower mark last season. He was well backed when a beaten favourite on his first start for Skelton at Worcester back in August and that run should have blown the cobwebs away. Lightly-raced he is open to more improvement although this is a decent race with Lost Glory returning to form at Ffos Las last time considered the danger for O’Neill and McCoy.
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