Kempton

12.45pm

Russian Ruler

He had another wind op before his reappearance at Newbury last month and I thought he shaped very well indeed for James there, finishing off his race well, and that was important for him. He is a course winner and a horse who perhaps has more raw talent than his current mark of 127 suggests. So let’s hope he can build on Newbury, and appreciate the step up in trip here, which is a question he has to answer. The ground will suit.

1.55pm

Constitution Hill

The formbook obviously tells you this is his race to win, and win well, but, as we always say, shocks happen in racing. And they have occurred in this very Grade 1 in recent years, as we well know. But we couldn’t be happier with him, and a reproduction of anything like his wide-margin win from Epatante in this race last season will do nicely. There is nothing more to say really.

2.30pm

Shishkin

Everyone has had their say about why he did what he did at Ascot, but the bottom line is we don’t know. Was it simply an off-day, or was it the cheekpieces he was set to wear for the first time, or something else. Who knows? We all get out of the wrong side of the bed on occasions. But when he gets out of it on the right side then he is some horse, as six Grade 1 victories underline, and he proved his 3m stamina when winning the Bowl at Aintree last season. At his best, he can match it with the likes of Allaho and Bravemansgame, so l am hoping he can do his talent justice here. If he does, then we are bang in the mix.

3.05pm

Gentleman’s Relish

The aspect that I liked most about his bumper win at Newbury last time was how much he would have learned from it.  Of course, he has to go and do it over hurdles now but he has done everything asked of him in his preparation and hopefully he can really blossom from here.

3.40pm

Will Carver

I won on him here back in 2021 and this is the first time I have ridden him since. He was won twice in the interim, including a wide-margin win on his return at Taunton. He has gone up 9lb but hopefully there is more to come from him.

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