Ben Linfoot previews Wednesday's action with the Nap running on the all-weather at Kempton.
Tuesday selections
DARK MYSTERY - 7.30 Wolverhampton
The mile and three-quarter handicap that follows looks a good rematch between Alfheim and DARK MYSTERY, with the latter taken to gain revenge.
Ben Brookhouse's horse may only be 1lb better off for a neck defeat but he's well worth another chance to break a sequence of good but ultimately frustrating efforts in defeat.
Hector Crouch very nearly executed the perfect ride aboard Dark Mystery last time, nabbed close home by a clearly thriving rival, but there's arguably even more pace in the race on this occasion and that will suit the selection who has stamina for even further and might be able to bring the filly's impressive winning run to an end.
Wednesday selections
HIPPOCRATIC OATH – 7.30 Kempton (NAP)
HIPPOCRATIC OATH can get the better of Beccali and Best Rate in the 1m handicap at Kempton (7.30) on Wednesday. The grey son of Zoustar improved for switching to nurseries at the backend of his two-year-old season and he is now three from four in all-weather handicaps. Another 3lb nudge up the weights shouldn’t stop him from making another bold bid and in a small field off a likely ordinary gallop he can be well positioned towards the front end under Sean Levey.
SAWPIT SIENNA – 3.15 Taunton
If Taunton beats the big freeze SAWPIT SIENNA could well win the Saturday Meeting 18th January Mares’ Handicap Hurdle for the third year running. Samuel Drinkwater’s mare normally takes a few runs to find her groove but she’s usually firing on all cylinders by Taunton in January. She’s had two runs to put her straight and after winning this race off marks of 84 and 85 the last two years her claims are clear off 83 with Freddie Mitchell taking a further 5lb off.
BEATTIE IS BACK – 3.33 Newcastle
Richard Fahey has given BEATTIE IS BACK four weeks off but he could return to Newcastle with a bang in the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Handicap over seven furlongs. The son of Mayson has put in the best runs of his career over this course and distance and he has the gears to cope with a muddling gallop – a scenario that’s not out of the question here with a distinct lack of early pace on paper. Either way he can have a major say in this company from a perch of 77 judging by his last two runs.
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