I AM ON both the morning and afternoon shows on ITV on Saturday, and it’s also a Unibet and 32Red-sponsored card at Kempton, so I thought I better get my head in the formbook after spending three hours at Oaksey House on Friday morning!
The McNeill family, who I ride for, have three runners at Kempton and Tiffin Top goes in the opener at 12.20pm. He is a recent purchase from the Flat, and he showed plenty of ability on his hurdling debut at Taunton. He could find Chaparral Prince a tough nut to crack here, but he will be winning races.
In the 12.55pm, Ector hasn’t shown us as much as we would have liked so far, but he is a big horse and probably needs more time. Hopefully, the cheekpieces will bring about improvement, though.
It would be Amour De Nuit for me in the 1.30pm. I like Poker School, but he probably had a hard enough race at Sandown last Saturday.
Charbel and Top Notch both carry 6lb penalties in the 32Red Casino Chase at 2.05pm and, as impressive as the former was at Huntingdon, I fancy Top Notch. He made a very good return over hurdles in the old Long Walk at Ascot, and I can see him asserting late on here.
It’s Darling Maltaix for me in the Unibet Lanzarote Hurdle at 2.40pm. He improved for the step up in trip at Ascot last time, and I reckon he is up to defying a 12lb rise in the weights. He is a free-going sort who should appreciate a strong pace, and he has a good 5lb claimer on him, too.
Barney Dwan catches my eye, off a mark of 141 on ground he will like and wearing first-time cheekpieces, in the 3.15pm. I think he will take the beating.
We also have Dino Velvet in the last at 3.45pm. He went up a lot for winning at Ayr last season but he is coming down a bit in the weights now and has conditions to suit. I do fear Speed Company though, and this track could suit him. And maybe the tongue-tie will help him improve, as well.
Our best chance of a winner could well be Keeper Hill in the Pertemps Qualifier at 3.35pm at Warwick. He lost his way over fences but he ran really well when second to a well-treated horse at Cheltenham last time, and I still think he is fairly handicapped off a 3lb higher mark.
Elsewhere on the Warwick card, I thought Cogry would go well in the Classic at 3pm. His jumping has been better this season, he will enjoy the ground and comes here in good form after his win at Cheltenham last time. He was also second in this race last season.
