All-weather expert Jamie Maynard takes a look at Saturday's evening meeting at Kempton and highlights two horses he wants on side.
7.15 Racing UK In Glorious HD Handicap
There’s not much form on the table here with only two previous winners in this seven-runner field. Carp Kid has won both a seller and a claimer but is left on the same mark as when held on New Year's Eve at Lingfield so is passed over.
The overnight favourite Sheriff has come up against some decent looking sorts in novice company over the past couple of months and has been gelded since his last run. He makes his handicap debut on a fair mark and Adam Kirby takes the ride so should play a hand.
The selection, however, is Jonathan Portman’s bay-filly GOLDEN IMAGE. She posted a moderate effort in between two promising runs, the first was on debut at long odds where she was outpaced two furlongs out but rallied late to pick up minor money and it was a similar story on her last outing but this time went off favourite.
All three of those runs were over seven furlongs and the manner in which she has finished those races has hinted at a step up in trip, which is granted here over an extra furlong on handicap debut.
Her trainer isn't one to have too many winners but has had figures of 1-2-6-3 in the past fortnight so is in some form and I can see this filly adding to those stats and shedding the maiden tag.
8.15 32Red Handicap
The feature race is this 0-105 handicap being run over the two-mile trip and I tend to look at horses who have done the job already over course and distance.
Sunblazer won well here last time after coming close the time before and a 3lb rise might not be too tough to handle as he's still sitting 6lb below his highest winning mark. Both Haines and Clowance One come under the same category but look held on past runnings with VELVET REVOLUTION and it’s the five-year old who can prevail here.
He's been raised 2lb for victory over two furlongs shorter at Wolverhampton last time and that was coming off a short break and was probably a prep run for this. Now back up to two miles he can be seen in an even better light having, prior to that victory, both won and placed over track and trip.
Lord George is another who stays and if reproducing the form of his fourth in the Northumberland Plate in July then he'd have a chance but does have to concede weight all-round so it's the Marco Botti inmate who is the choice with him still open to much more improvement at the age of five with Martin Harley back on board a horse with whom he's already won three times.
Recommended bets:
1pt win Golden Image in 7.15 Kempton at 3/1
1pt win Velvet Revolution in 8.15 Kempton at 7/2
Posted at 2225 GMT on 05/01/18.
