MIDWEEK SELECTIONS
KEMPTON
WEDNESDAY
6-45 BETBRIGHT.COM WILD FLOWER STAKES (LISTED) – 1 M 4 F
Kalaatah made it two wins from as many starts when winning as she liked over this course and distance last time out. She is clearly a smart filly and she deserves to take a further rise in class to contest this listed race. Saeed Bin Suroor is not one to over reach with his runners and she can make the most of all of the allowances that she is set to receive from her male counterparts. Newly appointed stable jockey James Doyle takes over in the saddle and the combination command respect in a race in which he shall be keen to prove himself.
Grendisar has an impressive record around here for Marco Botti and scored in similar company over the course and distance three weeks ago. He is still improving and should the selection fail to make the expected progress, he will be there to pick up the pieces. He looks the biggest threat despite going up twenty five pounds in the handicap since the beginning of the year. Harris Tweed has now dropped to his lowest mark in quite some time. He was an honourable third in this race last year and is once again likely to try and stack them up from the front. The weight concession could just prove critical here and Kalaatah may well be able to make the most of it.
NEWBURY
THURSDAY
1-35 BET365.COM NOVICES HANDICAP HURDLE – 2 M 5 F
Orby’s Man was far from disgraced on what was his handicap debut at Towcester last time. Although he was no match for the ever improving Malibu Sun, he still saw off some useful sorts in the shapes of Malibu Rock and Mister Newby. He is fully entitled to improve on what he did there and Noel Fehily knows him inside out having partnered him in all but one of his career starts to date. The front five in that particular race drew some fifteen lengths clear of the remainder suggesting that the form was worth paying attention to and that was proven when Cove was upped in grade and ran a fine race at Ascot last weekend.
Barton Heather has been in good form lately and has done well since being upped to these staying trips. She is actually proven over further than this and Neil Mulholland has his team in excellent shape. Despite an ever rising handicap mark, she handles the soft ground and commands plenty of respect with Michael Byrne on board. Roquine Sauvage certainly improved for her seasonal debut when romping home at Chepstow last week. This extra five furlongs is a massive unknown though and whether she can last home is a worry. Orby’s Man is still far from exposed and is starting to get his act together over hurdles. Provided he is able to handle the underfoot conditions he is entitled to go very well.
NEWBURY
FRIDAY
2-40 BET365 OPEN HANDICAP CHASE – 2 M 4 F
Rolling Aces was no match for Wishfull Thinking on his seasonal reappearance when contesting a Grade Two race at Aintree last month. It is envisaged that a return to this track with a run under his belt can work to his advantage and he can get off the mark at the second time of asking this season. The form of that last race is beginning to work out as the fourth placed Uxizandre managed to win at Cheltenham subsequently and the sixth placed Conquisto went close at Huntingdon next time.
Lamool comes into this race defending an unblemished record for Tim Vaughan and Michael Byrne. He could not have been any more impressive when hacking up by no fewer than seventeen lengths at Aintree last time. This two and a half mile trip clearly poses no problem for the seven year old and with his jockey able to claim a useful three pounds here, he has to be considered a massive threat. Sound Investment is a stablemate of the selection and is the chosen mount of Sam Twiston-Davies. A recent win at Sandown will have boosted his confidence and he too has live claims. Rolling Aces is a class act on his day and previous course and distance winning form will stand him in good stead. Nick Schofield has been on board for three of his four career wins and it not be the biggest of shocks to put in a massive front running performance this afternoon.
WEDNESDAY 6-45 KEMPTON, KALAATAH
THURSDAY 1-35 NEWBURY, ORBY’S MAN
FRIDAY 2-40 NEWBURY, ROLLING ACES
