Timeform highlight a couple of all-weather races that look like strong form and should work out well.
1m handicap, Kempton
Wednesday 8 January
Unlimited Replays
of all UK and Irish races with our Race Replays
Discover Sporting Life Plus Benefits
A handicap in which it proved tricky to get involved from off the pace, despite the gallop seeming fair, but it's still form that makes plenty of sense, a trio who arrived in good heart filling the places.
MONOPOLISE, back up in trip for the first time since winning over C&D in November, ran up to his best to again come out on top; mid-division, smooth headway under 2f out, effort soon after, edged ahead final 1f, always holding on.
BEAUTY GENERATION, back in headgear after 7 weeks off, proved at least as good as ever; slowly into stride, waited with, good headway on inner around 2f out, kept on well final 1f but never quite getting there, fared best of those held up; he's yet to win in handicap company, but is clearly down to a good mark.
SATURNALIA wasted no time confirming himself still in good form; prominent, shaken up early in straight, outpaced briefly, kept on again final 1f.
TIMETOBENICE under a change of tactics, back down in trip, ran one of better races with first-time cheekpieces applied; close up, ridden under 3f out, stuck to task; he's no banker to be in the same form next time.
PROFITMAN remains in good form, doing just about all he could here from a less-than-ideal position; raced off the pace, progress around 2f out, had to weave way through over 1f out, effort flattened out close home.
SHAMARDAL STAR wasn't disgraced back down in trip, but didn't really do enough to suggest he's in the form to take advantage of a dropping mark; mid-field, pushed along over 2f out, kept on.
CLIPSHAM LA HABANA, without the headgear this time, failed to stay 1f longer trip, but lasted long enough to suggest he's over whatever ailed him at Newcastle in December; led, pushed along 2f out, headed final 1f, no extra.
BERNADINE, without usual headgear and claimer ridden, again ran below form; mid-division, came 3-wide home turn, faded straight.
DRUMSTICK was too free and found run of good form coming to a halt; chased leader, took strong hold, weakened over 1f out.
TASKHEER continues out of sorts; steadied at the start, never dangerous.
NIGHT ARC was back up in trip but fared no better; always behind.
MOND seems of little account nowadays; mid-field, raced freely, dropped away straight.
5f handicap, Newcastle
Friday 10 January
Unlimited Replays
of all UK and Irish races with our Race Replays
Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsA well-contested sprint and it should prove strong form for the grade, one that's thriving at present holding off a last-time-out winner and another that's in good nick at present; the pace was ordinary and it paid to be on the front end, the runner-up worth marking up with that in mind.
ORIENTAL PRINCE resumed winning ways back under a claimer and should continue to take plenty of beating, now 3 from 4 since the hood went on; led, took strong hold, tackled under 2f out, pushed out.
GUSTAV GRAVES under a penalty, ran at least as well in defeat as when winning at Wolverhampton earlier in the week, doing well to split a trio who were always up there; held up, good headway under 2f out, challenged entering final 1f, effort flattened out only late on.
THUNDER STAR again ran well, placed for the third start in succession from this mark; close up, took keen hold, every chance final 1f, no extra late on.
DARLO PRIDE continues in good heart; in touch, outpaced under 2f out, kept on final 1f.
RAMON DI LORIA probably needed the run back at the minimum trip on his return from 3 months off, this likely to bring him on; handy, not settle fully, every chance over 1f out, faded.
DICKO THE LEGEND failed to justify support dropped back in trip; in touch, effort 2f out, not quicken.
MUMAYAZ, easy to back, followed a good run with a below-par one; awkward leaving stalls, in rear, never dangerous.
SUGAR BABY probably needed the run after 14 months off; raced off the pace, pulled hard, weakened over 1f out.
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
