Racecards
16:50 Kempton Park
Betdaq.co.uk Handicap (div 1) (Class 5)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £5,000 added
- Form 007375
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 70
steadied start, very keen in rear, ridden 2f out, no impression and outpaced over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
- Form 2776-82
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer Tom Dascombe
- Jockey R Kingscote
close up, quickened to lead inside final furlong, headed and outpaced by winner towards finish
- Form 895080
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer J R Boyle
- Jockey T G McLaughlin
behind, ridden 2f out, no headway, weakened over 1f out
- Form 700217
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer T G Mills
- Jockey Hayley Turner
led and set steady pace, ridden and quickened 2f out, headed and lost 2 places inside final furlong, kept on well for 3rd
- Form 578039
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer J R Boyle
- Jockey P Cosgrave
prominent on inner, ridden and effort over 2f out, not pace to challenge over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
- Form 084371
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer Miss Gay Kelleway
- Jockey Liam Jones
took keen hold in mid-division, chased leaders over 1f out, no impression final furlong
- Form 581135
- Age 4
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer T T Clement
- Jockey M Geran
steadied start, held up mid-division, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on, not pace to challenge
- Form 995701
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 56
- Trainer Miss Tor Sturgis
- Jockey C Catlin
raced keenly, pressed leader, ridden and every chance 2f out to over 1f out, weakened final furlong
In depth
Verdict
The handicapper may now have the measure of Charming Escort, and so we will side with SALT OF THE EARTH ahead of the three last-time out winners. Terry Mills' son of Invincible Spirit was raised 4lbs for a win at the track in mid-November, and then finished in midfield last time. Whilst this race looks as competitive, the feeling is that there may still be some improvement to come and after a short break, better can be expected. Billy Hot Rocks won a poor maiden last time and needs to prove the stamina for this extra furlong, Copper King stayed on well to win last time when a well-supported favourite and is still well-treated on old form, whilst Tuxedo provided a shock last time and has more on the plate today from 2lbs out of the weights. Ravi River was a fair second when last seen but has an absence to overcome, and so in a tricky race it is Salt Of The Earth who gets the tentative nomination.
Formwatch
Royal Envoy (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Broke awkwardly, in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on, never dangerous, 5th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Milne Bay (8-5) at Great Leighs 6f app hcp (5) pol.
Ravi River (IRE) 10-11fav (9-9) Soon led, hung right over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied close home, just failed, 2nd of 7, nk behind One Night In Paris (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Apr.
Ike Quebec (FR) 20-1 (9-1) Always in rear, last of 12, 17l behind I Confess (8-10) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Salt of The Earth (IRE) 11-2 (9-6) Tracked leader 2 furlongs, stayed prominent, ridden and lost place over 2f out, never dangerous afterwards, 7th of 12, 5l behind To Be Or Not To Be (8-9) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Mr Garston 7-2fav (9-5) In touch, ridden along 3f out, not pace to trouble leaders 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 12, 7l behind To Be Or Not To Be (8-9) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Billy Hot Rocks (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, good headway and switched right to inner over 1f out, soon chasing leader, ran on under pressure to lead final 100 yards, kept on, won at Kempton 6f mdn stk (5) pol beating Maid of Ailsa (8-12) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Charming Escort 8-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra final 75 yards, 5th of 13, 3l behind The Cayterers (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Copper King 7-2fav (8-12) Raced keenly, led 1 furlong, lost place and behind mid division, short of room and switched left over 2f out, good headway on outside to lead over 1f out, ran on well, ridden out, won at Kempton 1m hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov beating King o.
Tuxedo 25-1 (9-0) Behind, good headway on inside over 1f out, ran on final furlong to lead near finish, won at Kempton 7f stk 0-55 (6) pol beating Eleanor Eloise (8-9) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Rabbit Fighter (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, ridden well over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 12l behind Milne Bay (8-9) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.