There is the possibility of thunderstorms at many of our meetings today and it might be prudent to focus more on tonight’s Kempton all-weather card where you know the going will be standard.
Third Strike is bidding for a fifth win on the bounce for Gary Moore but he is 17lbs higher than when starting his winning sequence; he goes very well for tonight’s talented apprentice Hector Crouch (no relation to Peter) but marginal preference is for the lightly-raced Chantecler (6.10) who has been off the track since scoring at Wolverhampton back in September off a 6lbs lower mark. The selection can race keenly but if he gets a decent pace to track he can reward each way support for the inform yard of Hughie Morrison.
There was plenty of money about for Troopingthecolour (7.40) returning from a 12 month absence over today’s C&D back in March but the 9-year-old failed to deliver and he has only been dropped 2lbs for what was a disappointing effort. He has the worst of the draw to overcome in stall 10 but the booking of William Buick suggests a bold show is expected.
Smiling Stranger likes to lead and if there is enough pace in the race I think the Steve Gollings gelding can pounce fast and late although I am worried about the progressive Majeed, drawn in stall two, who bounced back from a long lay-off to score at Chelmsford back in March.
Red Cossack (8.40) remains a maiden after ten career starts but his best run was over 7f here as a juvenile with Jimmy Fortune in the plate and he might be ready to strike for Paul Webber off a career low mark.
Lough Kent (2.40) has been frustrating of late for Nicky Henderson but he already has a win over fences to his name in France and has been running consistently well over timber in recent starts. The yard are in excellent form of late and they look to have found an excellent opportunity for his first start over the larger obstacles in Britain.
Noel Fehily is reunited with War Singer (4.40) in the handicap hurdle and should have the race run to suit with recent Kempton winner Mr Landon likely to try and make all with Leighton Aspell taking over in the saddle.
At Ayr there is a hot 6f juvenile maiden won by John Quinn’s The Wow Signal 12 months ago and many of the leading northern yards are represented. Lockram is interesting for Mark Johnston who has saddled the winner twice in the last six years but Ancient Astronaut (2.20) is the half-brother to a number of winning sprinters and represents last year’s winning stable.
Evanescent is a dual C&D winner at Ayr and must defy a career high mark if he is to land his hat-trick ad preference is for Victoire De Lyphar (3.20) who has been dropped 5lbs since the start of the season but will enjoy the forecast soft ground and ran his best race so far this term when third at Redcar last month and the handicapper has seen fit to drop him another couple of pounds.
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