Jamie Maynard is backing a Charlie Appleby-trained juvenile to concede weight all round as he previews the pick of the action at Kempton.
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This novice stakes looks set to be fought out between the two at the head of the market, Glencadam Master and STATEHOOD. The former, trained by John Gosden, hasn’t been beaten far in two maidens and is now dropped back in trip which could help find some improvement, but it’s the latter who I fancy to prevail.
The Charlie Appleby-trained colt showed a nice turn of foot to wear down On The Warpath on his debut at Lingfield over seven furlongs at the beginning of November and that horse has since won not once, but twice and has an official rating of 92. He has to carry a 7lb penalty for that victory but that looked a pretty hot race and you’d have to think with improvement likely now stepping up to a mile on his second start he’s the one to beat.
Martyn Meade’s Tum Tum may get involved on the back of a good fourth here behind an improver a week ago but it’s the son of Kodiac (who cost 200,000gns as a yearling) who should be too strong for these and can shrug off that 7lb penalty and double up for his strong connections in the hands of Adam Kirby.
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Cool Breeze has been running well over five furlongs recently without winning and although she was well beaten over this trip in her first couple of starts, she is worth another chance at this trip now she has more experience under her belt for a trainer who is in good form.
Pretty Bubbles is worthy of a mention as she's looking well handicapped and is a multiple course winner but she's not won for over a year and has to overcome the widest draw.
Lady Cristal makes plenty of appeal as she's back on a winning mark and the form of her latest second at Wolverhampton has been franked with the winner going in again since but the one for me in this is Gay Kelleway’s three-year old REEDANJAS.
This filly won a Beverley maiden on debut last October and the handicapper seemingly gave her a tough opening mark of 77 and she has struggled to land a real blow.
She’s now slipping down the weights, this current mark of 65 looks more reasonable and her latest couple of third-placed efforts have been much more encouraging, the latest when beaten two-and-a-quarter lengths on Wolverhampton’s Tapeta off this mark.
Harrison Shaw is able to take a further 7lb off her back and this daughter of Sir Prancealot could be ready to gain a first handicap success on Polytrack debut from a handy draw.
2pts win Statehood in 5.10 Kempton at 13/8
0.5pt e.w. Reedanjas in 6.40 Kempton at 13/2
Posted at 0745 GMT on 20/12/17.