Snowy Kempton

[fintron]

Kempton continues to be a track that poses some of us problems and I have had a look at all the races run there since Christmas Day, which have all been ran through the current snowy weather after track inspections. Crystals of ice can apparently get into the polytrack and it rides quicker than normal. 30^th dec

5f nursery – 10 runners - Slowest away, soon in 8th, good progress over 1f out and weaved through, led inside final furlong, soon clear

5f handicap – 8 runners - With leader, ridden over 1f out, edged ahead inside final furlong, held on

2m handicap – 9 runners - Steadied start, took keen hold and held up in last pair, pushed along and progress over 3f out, went 3rd over 2f out, edged left but ridden to lead over 1f out, very readily 8f claimer – 4 runners - Ran in snatches early, mostly in 3rd, challenged over 2f out, chased leader after, kept on under pressure to lead inside final furlong

6f handicap – 9 runners - Slightly hampered start, took keen hold, held up in 6th, quick move on inner to lead well over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well

7f handicap – 12 runners - Held up behind leaders, going strongly 2f out, effort over 1f out, ran on to lead entering final furlong, ridden clear

3^rd Jan

8f claimer – 5 runners - In rear but in touch, headway 2 out, ridden to lead just inside final furlong, soon edged left, driven out 8f handicap – 10 runners - Held up in rear and still behind 2f out, rapid headway on outside over 1f out to lead final 110yds, won going away 6f maiden – 9 runners - Chased leaders, driven along over 2f out strong run from over 1f out to lead inside final furlong, stayed on strongly 12f handicap – 13 runners - Made virtually all, hung badly left inside final 2f, stayed on strongly final furlong 6f handicap - 7 runners - Tracked leaders, led inside final 2f, shaken up and hung left final furlong, readily 7f handicap – 9 runners - Led 1f, stayed tracking leaders, led again inside final 2f, stayed on under pressure when challenged just inside final furlong, asserted and in command final 100yds 9^th Jan 10f maiden - 8 runners - Took keen hold, steadied after start, held up in last pair, headway on outer 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on well final 100yds to lead last strides 10f handicap – 8 runners - Held up in midfield, headway on outer over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged right but stayed on well final furlong 10f handicap – 12 runners - Made all, ridden and quickened 2f out, stayed on well final furlong 8f handicap – 8 runners - Raced keenly, led after 1f, made rest, ridden and hung left 2f out, kept edging left under pressure, held on gamely inside final furlong 6f handicap – 7 runners - Steadied and dropped in behind after start, headway and switched inside entering final 2f, quickened to lead over 1f out, clear final furlong, comfortably 6f handicap – 8 runners - Steadied after start, held up in rear, ridden entering final 2f, strong run under pressure final furlong to lead final 50yds 7f handicap – 7 runners - Broke well and led briefly, chased leader until 4f out and again 2f out, driven over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on 11^th Jan 10f handicap – 8 runners - Took keen hold early, always in leading trio, well placed when pace lifted 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on and soon clear 5f handicap – 9 runners - Made all, driven about 2 lengths clear over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, unchallenged 12f handicap – 10 runners - Tracked leaders, effort to lead over 2f out, ridden and stayed on well from over 1f out, in command final furlong 12f handicap – 12 runners - Tracked leader 5f, stayed close up, eased left and effort over 2f out, ridden to lead well over 1f out, ran on well 6f claimer – 7 runners - Steadied start, held up last, progress on inner as rest of field edged to centre from 2f out, pushed into lead over 1f out, readily 7f handicap – 6 runners- Held up in 3rd, effort to close on leader over 1f out, driven ahead last 100yds, stayed on well 8f handicap – 13 runners - Well away from wide draw, tracked leading pair, cruising 3f out, quick move to lead 2f out, ridden and stayed on strongly, very readily I've listed all the results so people can draw their own conclusions but what I personally wanted to know was whether it paid to race up with the pace in large fields on the current polytrack effected by the weather. I've bolded the number of runners when it was double figures and in these situations, of which there were eight races, two horses won from off the pace, four won tracking the leaders and two won making all so perhaps that does suggest its best not to race from too far back? The track is quite tight and when the runners come together on the bend there can often be trouble. Horses trying to squeeze through on the inside banking on gaps appearing and in the case of Hereford Boy, who came flying home from off the pace to win on the 3rd of Jan he actually won by travelling through on the outside. So even though you would expect a truer pace in a large field, at Kempton, you still don't want to be too far back, not compared to a straight track on turf anywhere where the hold up horses can come charging home? All that said, this is only a very small number of races and ideally I'd want to look at a greater number before drawing proper conlclusions, but there have only been a limited number of races run in the snow anyway, and I thought I'd share anyway.

[Dave in The Lakes]

Re: Snowy Kempton Good bit of research Wayne.