No turf racing today because of the frost which has claimed both Sedgefield and Market Rasen but Kempton Park envisage no problems, despite the cold snap, for their all-weather card this afternoon and they stage a competitive six-race card.
In the opener Michael Bell has his string in good heart and Habeshia (2.10) scored off only a 2lbs lower mark here back in November and remains in good heart. He is not one of the stable stars but probably would have won last time had he not dwelt at the start and lost valuable ground.
Conor Dore claimed City Of Anghor Wat at Wolverhampton last week and wastes no time getting his new inmate on the track; a market move would be worth noting.
Those with experience don't set the bar too high in the mile maiden and a market move for any of the newcomers would be significant in such a modest event. That said the booking of Jamie Spencer for Virtual Reality (2.45) sways me to believe that Philip McBride's gelding can reverse recent Wolverhampton running with Vale Of Iron who finished three-quarters of a length in front of the selection last time. The 3-year-old has been well supported on both career starts to date and has obviously been showing a fair bit at home.
Novel Dancer is a dual C&D winner but is running off a career high mark and has never been the most consistent of animals. Bennelong (3.20) didn't get the best of runs at Lingfield on Friday but suggested he was running into form. Amir Quinn was in the plate for the 9-year-olds both wins over today's trip (once over C&D) and he clearly gets on well with the horse. The selection has a decent draw in stall three and has won off a higher mark than todays in the past.
Equilicious has only beaten two horses in three career runs but is lightly-raced and represents a powerful yard. If the money came for the Charlie Hills-trained filly it might be worth following but I am going to take a chance on Total Demolition (3.50) who might not have got home over a mile here last time and should appreciate dropping back a furlong.
The Dapper Tapper is 2lbs higher than when runner up at Lingfield last time and must run well despite top-weight but Rialto Magic (4.25) has looked up to winning off this mark in the past and can break her maiden at the sixth attempt with the return to 6f the key.
At Southwell the mare Barbs Princess (3.35) is in the form of her life and can complete the hat-trick despite carrying a 6lb penalty for her recent C&D success which was her first run on fibresand. That was only a four-runner event and this is much more competitive but she looked a natural on this surface and might have more to offer.
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