2.55 Kempton
Major Sting
He shaped with some promise when fourth over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow back in October, hinting that a stronger test of stamina such as this would suit, but he clearly didn’t progress as expected when he pulled up for me at Warwick last time. He obviously has to improve a lot to get competitive here but hopefully there is plenty of improvement in him as he steps up in trip on better ground.
1.32pm Kempton
Falco Blitz
He was pulled up in soft ground at Bangor on his return, but he should get much better ground here, and enjoy it, and he was dropped 3lb for that run. He has run a couple of decent races around here and I think he is on a decent mark, with conditions to suit. And the race has cut up a lot, too.
2.40pm Kempton
Marie’s Rock
She was clearly a horse going places before an injury curtailed her season back in early 2020 but she has slowly come alive this term, running two very promising races in defeat before her wide-margin course and distance win here last time. I always thought she would get this longer trip but she was still a bit of a revelation there, travelling well and bounding clear from the second-last for a 7-length win from a progressive horse. She has gone up 9lb and is into a much deeper and more competitive handicap, but we are hopeful of a prominent showing.
3.50pm Kempton
First Street
He was actually in the Tolworth Hurdle at the five-day stage, and a similar handicap to this later on in the Sandown card, but I think the better ground will suit him here. He was far too keen for his own good in the Persian War last time but he was impressive over 2m5f at Warwick before that and a mark of 132 looks fair on that win, if not generous. He runs over 2m for the first time over hurdles here but a strongly-run race, allowing him to settle, promises to suit him. He has had his wind done since we last saw him in October, as well.
