BBOTD Monday 28th April

[chris34]

7.05 Windsor Not a huge amount of pace on here only one confirmed front runner and couple that like to sit prominently so may pay to be up with the pace at the very least. Top Diktat is in the form of his life, further 6lb rise for latest win obviously makes things tougher but cant be ignored in current vein, has had chances off marks in 80’s previously and was unable to win so a mark of 84 clearly demands a lot more. Does have form on soft conditions although recent form has come on polytrack and good ground will also want a decent pace to chase unlikely to get that. Hard to assess Santo Thomas no flat form in this country and just fair over hurdles, last win off a mark of 107 so flat mark of 87 might be a tad high but will handle soft conditions. Number One London became frustrating last year and remain a maiden to tread carefully with. Top Set just has the 3 maiden runs and a handicap mark of 74 may not prove beyond him in time but had lengthy lay off and yet to encounter this sort of ground. Starwatch was a good 3^rd on seasonal reappearance last time out over 1mile around here in soft conditions, has always been stretched by this trip though. Handheld is the one for me, made a very pleasing return to the track at Doncaster on the Lincoln weekend with a solid 3^rd on soft ground having got a fairly soft lead. I think the handicapper has been very kind to leave him unchanged the front 3 pulled well clear of the remainder and the winner has since placed off 7lb higher mark. For a 7yr old he remains lightly raced and clearly has more to offer in soft conditions especially if coming on from the race. 1pt win Handheld 4/1 bet365

[robertob]

Re: BBOTD Monday 28th April 14.10 Kempton: Starlit Cantara @ 9/2 Bet365 Starlit Cantara is an obvious chance here after her most recent run and the fact that the handicapper left her mark unchanged makes her a filly very hard to beat here. After a winter break she reappeared at Kempton three weeks ago and she travelled well enough for most parts of the race. She made nice headway from 2f out, challenging the leader hard. That horse though found more and more, having the run of the race from the front in a slowly run race. Half a furlong out though it looked as if Starlit Cantara could finally be able to pass the leader, trying to slip through on the inside. This move ended abruptly when the leader shifted towards the rail shutting the door and the jockey on Starlit Cantara had to take a hard pull to avoid a crash. Now, it isn't said that she would have passed the leader indeed, but she was robbed the chance to have every chance at least. Considering that the eventual winner followed up with another success, it is to assume that Starlit Cantara must be well in tomorrow, since she can race off the same mark again on her second seasonal outing, over the same course and distance in a rather poor class 6 handicap.