Kempton 5/5/08

[RussP]

RACE
DATE	Mon 5th May, 2008
RACE	5.00 Kempton
RUNNERS	14
SELECTION	CROSS THE LINE
FORECAST	CROSS THE LINE / NICE TO KNOW / RUSSIAN EPIC (combo x 6)
TRICAST	As above plus MINNIS BAY (combo x 24)

ELIMINATIONS
COUNT CEPRANO / NORTHERN SPY / JAKE THE SNAKE / ELECTRIC WARRIOR	Draw
JEDBURGH	AW debut, out of form
EVA SONEVA SO FAST	Best at Lingfield, season debut
HOPEFUL PURCHASE	Outclassed
COUNCELLOR	Looks thoroughly exposed now but on decent mark
VIVA VETTORI	Handicap debut
BOMBER COMMAND	Decent mark but all wins at 7f

SHORTLIST	Price
CROSS THE LINE	12/1	Big chance at the weights on recent running with Nice To Know. Has the much better draw today and has had 2 runs this term to put it spot on. May need luck in running but, if it does, must go well. Best over this trip too and loves Kempton, record of 23122125 here, with the 3 over 7f and the 5 on reappearance run this term.
NICE TO KNOW	4/1	Big improver since joining this yard and has Ryan Moore in the plate. Up 4lb for latest effort when 2nd in hot Class 4 handicap, was hampered too when making its challenge. 7lb worse off with Cross The Line for 3.5L and less than half the price. Should go close but no real value.
RUSSIAN EPIC	11/2	AW debut but from shrewd trainer whose horses always go well at this time of year. Lightly raced, well drawn and only its 2nd season so open to loads of improvement. Best form last term was with ease in the ground so that suggests surface could suit.
MINNIS BAY	12/1	Prominent racer so has excellent draw. Looked a decent type last term and finished just 2L behind Don’t Panic. Has gone well here but poor run at the end of the season when going off far too strong and weakening at the business end. Absence is a slight worry but handicapped to go close if fit.

[fintron]

Re: Kempton 5/5/08 Kempton 2.30 - Baytown Breeze Baytown Breeze is the only course and distance winner in the field here, picking up a class 5 handicap here back in January off a mark of 70. Since then she has contested races at Wolverhampton and Lingfield when upped to class 4 handicaps (5f), but failed to make much of an impact. At Wolverhampton she went right at the start and went clear halfway, however, she came wide entering the straight and was headed inside the final furlong to end up 4 lengths off the winner and in 4th. At Lingfield she finished back in 5th after racing keenly but failing to hold on at the end. Nevertheless, the return to Kempton may help Michael Wigham's filly here and her form of that CD win had worked out quite well with Orpen's Art, back in second, going on to pick up a couple of low grade handicaps soon after. Kelly Harrison takes the ride tomorrow and claims 5 lbs and Baytown Breeze has already been dropped 1 lb in the handicap after its last two showings. She is drawn low in stall 2 which could also help. Kempton 4.30 - Coda Agency Coda Agency picked up a handicap here over course and distance two runs ago off a mark of 53 last month. He was a comfortable winner that day, finishing 2.75 lengths clear of second placed Featherlight. He was upped to a class 4 race last time out at Kempton and running off a 4 lb higher mark he struggled in better company. Although he went off as second favourite he weakened in the final furlong, and connections will be hoping for a better show here. Neil Callan rides here which is a plus considering he has ridden eleven winners in the past fortnight. Dropped 2 lb in the handicap here and back down in grade, David Arbuthnot's gelding could make the frame once more.