Horses running from our main list to follow
Huntingdon 12.25 – Commander Vic
Huntingdon 12.55 – Noble Sham
Huntingdon 2.00 – Smart Street
Huntingdon 2.40 – Amir El Jabal
Kempton 12.45 – Otage de Brion
Kempton 1.20 – Silverburn
Kempton 2.30 – Exotic Dancer, Kauto Star, My Way de Solzen & Taranis
Kempton 3.05 – Benetwood
Towcester 1.25 – The Package & Tot ‘O Whiskey
Towcester 1.55 – Ballyvoge
Towcester 2.25 – Seven is Lucky
Wincanton 12.30 – Cracking Cliché
Wincanton 2.45 – Russian Trigger
Horses running from our “dark horses” list
Huntingdon 12.55 – Proud to Present
Kempton 12.45 – Blue Bajan & Evelith Echo
Market Rasen 1.15 – Custom Design
Russellform Ramblings
Kempton Park
12.45 – Blue Bajan was only beaten a head by Maraahel in a Group 3 race on the flat at Chester and was rated as high as 111. He has made a very promising start to his hurdling career finishing a close second at Ascot to a horse that has won twice since and following up with a win at Leicester.
That race at Ascot may well hold the key here as the 3rd and 4th that day, Song of Songs and Polyfast, both re-oppose. Song of Songs had AP McCoy in the plate that day and the champion jockey will be on board once again at Kempton. Song of Songs was 2nd to Champion Hurdle hopeful Osana last season and has a live chance here. Polyfast comes from a family of winners and I am sure he has the scope to progress this season. He also comes from a stable that traditionally does well at this time of year.
Evelth Echo and Otage de Brion are others that add spice to what looks a very interesting contest. Evelith Echo is a tough little horse who won a bumper at Kempton last season. He was only beaten a short head by County Zen, who had earlier beaten Blue Bajan at Ascot. He seems quite versatile as far as ground goes. Otage de Brion, a big chasing type, was a bit disappointing when 3rd at Plumpton on his seasonal reappearance but may have needed the run. He had earlier won at Plumpton in a race where the form has since worked out well. With Font, a Paul Nicholls newcomer from the flat also in the mix this could hardly be more difficult to solve. I am going to stick with the form lines though County Zen which brings in Blue Bajan, Polyfast, Song of Songs and Evelith Echo. I was impressed with the attitude shown by Evelith Echo at Sandown and at 6/1 he looks each way value.
1.20 – Silverburn is a full brother to Denman and has always looked a chaser in the making. He was 2nd to Hobbs Hill on his chase debut and that horse has won since. Silverburn should strip fitter this time and is the selection.
1.55 – The talented Harchibald was back to something like his best when winning the Fighting Fifth and looks the one to beat here. Acambo reverts to hurdles after falling at the last over fences at Taunton on his last run. I still think he has a future over fences but I can’t see him getting the better of Harchibald. I will of course be hoping for a big run form “my horse” the Elite Racing Club’s Penzance. He stayed on well in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham to nick 3rd but I am not sure that Kempton will suit him as well.
2.30 – four of the last 5 runnings of the King George have gone to the favourite and this year looks like continuing the trend. It is difficult to find a chink in Kauto Star’s armour. Exotic Dancer has finished runner up to the Paul Nicholl’s champion 3 times now and Kauto Star does seem to have his rival’s measure. Kauto Star beat Exotic Dancer by 8 lengths in the King George last season and you would have to think that Kauto Star will come out on top again. Racing Demon was 3rd in last season’s race and is another that seems held on that form, although he does run well on a right handed tarck and is arguably in better fettle thgis time around.. Taranis is a decent horse in his own right but is clearly the Nicholls second string while High Cloy is on a 12 race losing sequence. If you are looking for something to beat the favourite then my Way de Solzen and Our Vic are being touted by some experts. My Way de Solzen was well beaten behind Kauto Star and Exotic Dancer at Haydock but may not have been fully would up that day as both the others had the benefit of a recent run. He has a World Hurdle and an Arkle on his CV and is a particularly good jumper. If there were 8 runners he would look a reasonable each way bet, as would Racing Demon (but there are now only 7 taking part). Our Vic is something of an enigma. He is a talented individual and goes well fresh. In truth though you have to think that if Kauto Star runs up to his best form he will win.
3.05 – Benetwood got off the mark over fences last time at Warwick and can win again here as long as we don’t get too much rain. He is quite lightly raced, comes from a good jumping family and has been most consistent in his career thus far.
Huntingdon
12.25 – Commander Vic is related to two horses that were placed in Grand Nationals but rather let the family honour down when he fell on his chase debut. He runs over hurdles here and with the David Pipe stable really firing he gets the selection.
12.55 – The Pipe team may well be on another winner here with Noble Sham. This one showed form in bumpers before winning a novice hurdle at Worcester back in 2005. He was then on the injured list for over 2 years but has now had a couple of comeback runs and could be spot on for this. The consistent Proud to Present, who should be suited by the track and going looks the other one of interest in this race.
2.00 – Smart Street has been 3rd in his last two runs, both at Kelso. He should be better suited by the right handed track at Huntingdon and with the Reveley horses mainly running well he should give a good account.
2.40 – Amir El Jabal ran better than the bare form suggests at Towcester in April. A winner over hurdles in France he could well be leniently treated and is one to look out for if supported in the market.
Market Rasen
1.15 – Inherent is a winner of a bumper and over hurdles and makes her chase debut here. She should do well over the bigger obstacles and is one to watch out for. Custom Design usually runs well at Market Rasen as his form figures of 1310 verify. He also goes well fresh so could be of interest here at a big price.
2.20 – Victory Gunner goes for a hat trick of wins in this event but I prefer Orki Des Aigles. He was only beaten a short head last year and showed his well being when runner up at Wetherby earlier this month.
Sedgefield
1.05 – Monolith has been a great servant to connections down the years with the Pontefract Cup on the flat and a Cheltenham handicap Hurdle among his successes. He tackles fences for the first time here so it will be interesting to see how he goes. The trip would appear to be on the short side for Top Cloud from our list to follow.
Towcester
12.50 – The Package and Tot o’ Whisky represent our list to follow here. The Package has tended to race rather keenly which on the face of it could be a worry at Towcester with its very stiff finish. However, he won a bumper there last season and I am inclined to support him.
1.55 – Seven is Lucky was 3rd at Exeter when the David Pipe horses were not going that well. With the stable bang in form now I would expect a much better run.
Wetherby
2.35 – Victor Daly can follow up his win at Lingfield last month.
Wincanton
12.30 – Cracking Cliché was well beaten at Newbury earlier this month behind One Gulp but conditions that day were very testing and he deserves another chance. Owlesbury Dream looks the danger.
2.45 – Russian Trigger looked a progressive sort when winning on his handicap debut at Market Rasen and can improve enough to win again.
Irish selections
Down Royal 1.30 – Northern Alliance
Leopardstown 12.20 – Sizing Africa
Leopardstown 1.20 – Temlett
Leopardstown 2.25 – Perce Rock
Limerick 1.10 – Cooldine
Limerick 2.15 – Arrive Sir Clive (EW)
Nap of the day
Kempton 2.20 – Kauto Star
Today’s trivia
The last race ever to be staged at Birmingham was won by a horse called Welshman ridden by Greville Starkey and the last horse home in that race was called Plantation Inn.
What’s in a name?
Russian Trigger’s sire was Double Trigger who won the Goodwood Cup 3 times.
ahorse 