KEMPTON

1.15pm

Neil The Legend

He was impressive when winning by 15 lengths on his comeback at Warwick but, upped 11lb for that and into a much better handicap, he couldn’t reproduce that form at Lingfield last time. That has proved to be a strong race too and that Lingfield ground was just too deep for him as well, so hopefully he can come back to the Warwick form and have each way claims here.

2.25pm

Fantastic Lady

She meets three higher-rated rivals here, mostly obviously Pic D’Orhy, but she doesn’t carry a penalty and gets her 7lb sex allowance, so she only has to carry 10st 7lb. This will be the first time I have ridden her over fences but she looks to be warming to her task very nicely with wins at Warwick and Bangor and I am looking forward to seeing what she can do, upped in class, in this Grade 2.

3pm

Russian Ruler

He beat a very smart horse in Surrey Quest in his bumper last summer and I thought he shaped better than it first appears on his hurdling debut at Doncaster last time. He just got a bit tired late on there after travelling well into the race, and may have needed that run, his first since May, more than we thought. He clearly has a lot to find form-wise but there is surely more to come from him.

4.10m

Farouk De Cheneau

He had winning form in France before he came to us, but we haven’t seen him for nearly two years since he didn’t run up to expectations on his debut for us in March 2020. He has been out with a leg injury but hopefully all is well now and the handicapper has given us a chance by dropping him to 120. He has had his wind done, too.

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