Kempton 12/11/2008

[NMc106]

14-15 Kempton

Middleton Dene:

Top weight though has a 3lbs claimer to bring him 2lbs below the ‘second’ top weight. Drops down in distances here which will suit as he has struggled over 3 miles. Quite good hurdling record with 5 wins and 3 places from 12 outings. Seems to be caught by the handicapper at the moment as his last win came of a 125 which is 16lbs lower than what he is rated at just now. Has run 6 times on Good to Soft; winning 2 and placing 3 times.

Duc De Regniere:

CD winner here and has a good hurdling record of 2 wins and a place from 4 races, with the other race being the Ballymore Novices Hurdle in March. Making his handicap debut and goes of as top weight theoretically. Henderson has a good record here from his 84 runs & is in splendid form currently.

Ringaroses:

Another CD winner with a good hurdling record; 4 wins and a 2^nd from 6 runs. Is up 2lbs since his 2^nd in a class 2 at Doncaster in February. Last ran 10 days ago in his chase debut at Ascot running poorly and eventually being pulled up. Trainers in quite decent form and has a slight record here.

Nakai:

Nicholls horse who last ran 269 days ago. 5 times over hurdles, winning 1 and placing 3. Doesn’t like the ground too soft, which it isn’t here today. Doesn’t seem to like pressure as he has not kicked on when asked a couple of times with horses around. Can’t be ruled out due to Trainer & jockey combination.

Quite a good quality qualifier this with some good trainers putting out good horses. If Nakai can respond to pressure he will have a pretty good chance.

Suggestion:

Nakai - E/W @ 9/2 Paddy Power :hope

[WoodyTHFC]

Re: Kempton 12/11/2008 2.15 Duc De Regniere 2/1 var bog 15 pts Never really happened for him as a chaser last year despite early promise behind tidal bay and an easy early win. However back to hurdles over a c and d he relishes, he could still be a big threat. His limited hurdle form shows lots of promise, on his bri. bow he beat osana no less and even the third that day is a solid 140+ horse. Then over c and d he won well enough to beat battlecry who has since proved a good chaser. At the fest. that year he ran below par somewhat but given how lightly raced he is, there is no reason as to why he wont improve further this year initially as a hurdler and maybe as a chaser in the future. 2.50 Imsingingtheblues 5/6 var 15 pts Very impressive chasing debutant from this one, beat greenbridge, a horse who was good over hurdles and since ran behind another nicholls horse perhaps below par, and beat him very well too. For a novice jumped very well over c and d and quite frankly dominated the race and it wasnt a surprise to see arkle quotes afterwards. He was a good enough hurdler particularly early on last season with victories of the talented hobbs pair county zen and the top class snap tie when getting weight but the suggestion could be that he ends up perhaps a better chaser, certainly evidence of first run encourages. It is a real tough task today against more experienced horses like modicum (great third last season at aint. but disappointing since) but imsingingtheblues could be up to it especially if he jumps like he did last time.