Mar 19th - Preview for Kempton & Uttoxeter

 It may be the end of a long tough week, but there is some decent racing tomorrow at both Kempton and Uttoxeter - and it would be rude to ignore it !

That said, as there are only 24 hours in a day, I’ve not been able to go through the races as thoroughly as I normally would.

As a consequence, I may be light on bets tomorrow - and the preview is certainly a bit shorter than usual - but rest assured, I’ll only putting something up in the morning, if I feel it’s a decent bet (and I’m hopeful there may be one or two).

Here are my early (abridged) thoughts…


Kempton

1:30

An open looking 6 runner race, in which pace - and the decent ground - could be key.
Mellow Ben likes to lead - so that immediately makes him of interest - tho he can do a bit too much in front at times.
That’s a worry with Brewers Project also in the race (as he too likes to front run).
Cap St Vincent is interesting, back over fences, on his second run for Fergal - tho I don’t like horses carrying more than 12 stone.
They are the 3 that look most interesting - tho the other 3 certainly can’t be dismissed.

2:05

A tricky looking novice handicap chase, in which nothing really stands out.
Rockstar Ronnie looks interesting for the Skeltons, returning from a winter break: as does Sirocco Jo for Paul Nicholls, on his second run over fences.
The betting looks tight tho - and I’ll be surprised if I can find anything worth taking a risk on.

2:40

This is a really interesting handicap hurdle - tho I’m not sure I’ll have the time to check it out as well as I’d like !
Plenty of the runners are reverting to hurdles, and that makes things harder to assess.
Jay Jay Reilly is an obvious one for the Skeltons, having bolted up on his handicap debut. However he’s gone up over a stone for the win - and is favourite on the opening show.
Solo looks quite interesting, back over hurdles, after a bit of a break. He’s run well at Kempton in the past, so a return to the track looks a positive.
Jay Bee Why is another one returning to hurdles, who looks reasonably handicapped.
There’s plenty of guesswork required with him - but he does look quite interesting.
Zanza is yet another who is returning to hurdles - and he is well handicapped on the best of his form: whilst Masters Legacy is quite interesting, back up to 2m4f having disappointed last time, over 2 miles.
All in all, quite tricky !

3:15

Espoir de Guye looks a suspect favourite in this.
He did well to win last time, as he was never really travelling. However he has been raised 4lb for that - and I’m not sure he’ll appreciate the quicker ground.
Diego de Charmil, definitely has a chance after his last time out second to Palmers Hill in a good race at Ascot. He’s a well handicapped horse.
Whilst I dobt I’ll be able to ignore Debece, even tho he has been a little disappointing in his 2 runs this season.
The ability is still there, if things drop right for him.
Up the Straight is well handicapped - but his recent runs have been concerning. Manofthemountain isn’t as well handicapped - but he will have ideal conditions and should run a big race.
Definitely a race in which I’ll be trying to find a bet (or two !)


Uttoxeter

1:50

Kateson is handicapped to bolt up in this - if he stays the 3 miles !
He’s 9lb lower than when third to Tamar Bridge at Aintree in December - and also has a 10lb claimer in the saddle.
However, he disappointed last time at Newbury - and the trip is a concern.
If he comes up short, then there are a couple of interesting novices who could well  take advantage.
Serious Change has won both of his starts over hurdles - and an opening mark of 120 looks quite lenient; whilst Pulling Stumps won on his third start over hurdles - and has been given the same initial mark.
Both of them could be anything - and are nearly impossible to properly assess.

2:25

This is a decent novice handicap - tho with £40K up for grabs, I guess you would expect that !
Top weight, Saint Palais is a very useful horse - and his defeat of Gericault Roque at Newbury, has been well franked by the runner up.
I feel slightly uneasy about a 5 year old giving weight to older horses - but he’s a big horse and probably up to it.
Fuji Flight looks the main danger.
He’s trained by Venetia and has won his 2 most recent starts.
The booking of 7lb claimer, Lucy Turner suggests that connections want to give him the best chance possible.
Midnight River is quite interesting for the Skeltons, tho he will have to bounce back from a disappointing run last time.

3:00

Boothill and Beauport head the betting for this - and they are 2 horses that I really like.
Beauport has run 3 fine races this season - and is very unlucky not to have won any of them (particularly the last one !).
Boothill hasn’t achieve as much - but he really caught my eye on his seasonal debut at Ascot, and this is a far more suitable test than the 2 races he has run in since.
The handbrake will come off Ch’tibello quite soon - but maybe not tomorrow; whilst Llandinabo Lad looks the most interesting of the outsiders - in first time cheek pieces and given a more suitable test than on his 2 most recent starts.

3:35

Time to Get up won last years Midlands National - and he must have a very good chance of doubling up off a mark just 4lb higher.
He also ran really well at Haydock, last time…
Hewick is an interesting looking Irish raider.
He’s not been seen since winning at Sedgefield in October - and the booking of crack apprentice Jordan Gainford, suggests this has been a long term plan.
Achille is very well handicapped, on a mark 9lb lower than when 6th in the race last year. However, he is now 12…
Whilst Captain Drake also has previous in the race - is well handicapped - and bounced back to form last time. There’s not a lot to dislike about him !