Three jumps meetings in Britain today all run on flat right-handed tracks who tend to produce decent ground.
Good ground forecast for today’s six-race card at Kempton Park which features the chase debut of Shishkin the brilliant winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham back in the spring. The four-year-old Mick Pastor and fellow chase debutant Sangha River should ensure Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old does not have things all his own way and note he did fall on his hurdles debut last year.
Shishkin is not the only Festival winner on show with Indefatigable – who landed the Martin Pipe back in March – odds on for the listed Mares Hurdle. Paul Webber’s mare has had a recent run on the level and shapes as if this step up to three miles will suit, but the each way vote goes to Storm Goddess (2.00) who got up in the shadows of the post, under an inspired Tom Buckley, over 2m 5f earlier in the month and promises to be well suited by this step up in distance. Aidan Coleman takes over in the saddle.
What’s Occurring will appreciate today’s better ground than the bog he faced at Bangor-on-Dee on his return from a 12-month absence. The return to a right-hand track will suit and he is worth a second glance at the foot of the weights although he has yet to prove he gets this extended 2m 4f.
Lock’ Corner has wo four of his last five and travelled well before, seemingly, running out of gas over 3m over timber at Cheltenham last month. He returns to fences this afternoon but is 4lbs higher and the vote goes to Getareason (2.35) who belied his odds when third at Sandown on his first start for Paul Nicholls. The selection has bits of form over timber in Ireland when trained by Willie Mullins that suggest he could be well handicapped despite having to carry 11st 12lbs. He jumped well at the Esher track last month and is entitled to come on for what was his first start in 12 months.
The Domino Effect (3.10) will be jumping fences sooner rather than later but he is taken to land the finale with the step up to three miles the key for Emma Lavelle – who saddles two in the race – and Ben Jones who takes off a valuable 3lbs. The selection got outpaced on the run to two out here last time but finished his race off very well and today’s additional trip will suit.
Six go to post in the concluding conditional jockey’s race but they include four last time out winners. Thahab Ifraj looks to have been let in lightly given he is only 2lbs higher for beating the very much inform Get Back Get Back at Wincanton last month. He must go close carrying just 10st, but Pisgah Pike (3.45) was quietly fancied for the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last weekend before he was taken out on account of the soft ground.
His previous win at Plumpton has been franked by the runner up and he is taken to make it three wins from his last four starts for Jamie Snowden with his talented conditional Ben Hicks able to take off 8lbs. I think the main danger could come from Gary Moore’s Vision Clear who has scored over today’s C&D from a 5lbs higher mark.
Long Stay (12.25) may have bumped into one at Musselburgh on his hurdles debut when second to Bareback Jack of Donald McCain. The selection had the third 10L back on that occasion and he can land the opening 16-runner Maiden Hurdle for Fergal O’Brien whose string continue in such good form. His win with teenager Perfect Candidate at Haydock on Saturday was another fantastic training performance.
Mr Washington will be all the rage in the 2m 5f handicap hurdle and he must go close despite being raised 8lbs for a facile win at Chepstow on his first start for Tom Symonds. That success was gained on heavy ground but do note he did win his point on good ground. It might be significant that he is entered at Hereford on Wednesday and would escape a penalty for that race if successful today.
Marginal preference, however, is for Towards The Dawn (2.45) who ran a promising race at Ascot on his reappearance and is entitled to come on for that confidence booster given he failed to complete in his last couple of starts last season. He gets the each way nod.
At Musselburgh I thought Bootlegger (2.25) ran his best race yet over fences at Market Rasen last time and he is unlikely to bump into anything as well treated as Cool Destination this afternoon. The selection has been raised 2lbs for that effort, but he remains 7lbs below his hurdles mark and champion jockey Brian Hughes keeps the ride.
