Racing Chat - Monday 1st April

[The Brigadier]

 

 

Plumpton 2.25

The ITV cameras shown just the one race from Plumpton, the 2M 3F 164 yard class 2 handicap chase. As long as the ground doesn’t dry out too much the favourite I’d Like To Know should be hard to beat. He’s looked a promising chaser in just two starts over fences in going down by a short head to Issar d’Airy on his fencing debut at Newbury prior to running out a cosy 5 1/2L winner back at the Berkshire course last month. Both those runs were on soft/heavy ground but he has hurdle form on good ground so hopefully he’ll go on todays good to soft ground. 8lb higher than last time he is still on the upgrade and will be hard to beat for local trainer Chris Gordon and jockey Rex Dingle.

 

I’D LIKE TO KNOW 1 point win @ 2/1 bet365

 

Kempton 2.55

A progressive sort trained at Newmarket by father and son combo of John & Thady Gosden who was been trained for the Winter Derby until standing on a nail a few days before and makes his seasonal re-appearance here under Kieran Shoemark in this listed 1M 1F 219 yard Magnolia Stakes. A half brother to Ascot Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami he appears to have most to fear from the William Haggas trained Dubai Honour, a dual winner in Australia last year.

 

LIONS PRIDE 1 point win @ 11/4 bet365

 

Kempton 3.30

Ten runners go to post for this 1M 2F 219 yard class 4 handicap. Jamie Osborne saddles the likely favourite in Isle Of Sark who has been placed on all three starts last month and deserves to get his head in front here under Saffie Osborne. Andrew Balding’s Cello would have needed his latest run and may turn out to be the biggest danger to the selection but this should really be going to Isle Of Sark.

 

ISLE OF SARK 1 point win @ 9/4 bet365

 

Kempton 4.05

A dozen sprinters have declared for this 6F class four handicap. Al Barez was an eye-catcher last time out at Wolverhampton and Tom Clover’s charge should be in the shake up whilst the in form Richard Hughes’s trained The Thames Boatman arrives in good form but is drawn in the car park in stall 12 of 12. James Fanshawe’s five year old Al Ameen could be a value each way play in this competitive handicap. He won over course and distance in October on his first run for Fanshawe having joined from George Boughey whilst his second to Cover Up at Lingfield the following month also looks a good piece of form. The 114 day absence shouldn’t be an issue and he can reward an each way wager.

 

AL AMEEN 1 point each way @ 12/1 bet365 1/5th 1234

 

Kempton 4.40

Ten go to post for this 1M class 3 handicap in which Clive Cox’s Vultar and Farasi Lane bring the same form line to the race with the former beating his rival by a short head over course and distance last month. On one pound better terms there shouldn’t be much between the pair although the most interesting runner is the Roger Varian runner Dragon Icon. Thought good enough to contest the German 2000 Guineas last May, he showed on his penultimate outing over course and distance that he had a race of this calibre in him with his latest effort easily forgotten as he had the worst of the draw. James Doyle can start his association with Varian in great style by taking the first prize.

 

DRAGON ICON 2 points win @ 4/1 William Hill

 

Fairyhouse 5.00

A bumper field, as always, for this year’s Irish Grand National run over a stamina sapping 3M 5F on gluey heavy ground. Willie Mullins saddles three in the contest including the favourite Nick Rockett under Paul Townend, a novice having only his fourth start over fences and his first beyond three miles. He has a solid chance but has been well found in the market and at bigger odds it may pay to play the Thomas Gibney trained, Simon Munir & Isaac Souede owned Intense Raffles who appears to have been laid out for this by a trainer who was successful in this race back in 2012 with Lion Na Bearnai. The former French gelding has won both his starts for Gibney, novice chases here over 2M 6F and 3M 1 1/2F and he could be well treated in his first handicap and with J J Slevin replacing the injured Daryl Jacob.

 

INTENSE RAFFLES 1 point each way @ 8/1 Ladbrokes/Coral 1/5th 12345

 

[richard-westwood]

405 kemp 

Al barez 8.5 4/1 

Brazen idol. 8.3 8/1 

Holy fire. 7.8 25/1 

4pt win al barez ...2pt Ew brazen