We may now be well into spring, but the great British weather continues to have trouble deciding what it would like to do from one day to the next, and often one hour to the next. For much of the country, rain appears to be the default choice, resulting in a late reshuffle to this week’s bet, with the headline meeting at Kelso succumbing to the deluge. In response, the tote has decided to play it safe in filling out the bet with six competitive all-weather contests.
Five races from Kempton make up the bulk of the bet, with the Listed Class Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes providing the main attraction. Elsewhere, it’s handicapping fare all the way as we join the legions of punters attempting to crack this £100,000 puzzle. Read on to discover our selection in each of the six legs in this week’s Scoop6 Racing Tips.
1:30 Virgin Bet Restricted Novice Stakes
Class 2, 6f
Not a whole lot of form to go on in the opener, with the nine-runner field boasting just 14 runs between them. The James Horton-trained Grandad (4/1) heads the betting on the back of a solid debut at Newcastle when only run down inside the final furlong. Any improvement on that runner-up effort should see him at least in the mix. Charlie Fellowes’ Kodi Lion (9/2) brings similar claims, having finished third on his debut outing at Newcastle. Tiring close home over 7f that day, this drop back in trip may be in his favour.
Auric (11/2) also showed promise first time up and can go well for Hugo Palmer, whilst the relatively experienced Ethandun (13/2) has proven consistent in his four runs. All have claims, but we will take a chance on the only filly in the field, the Harry Eustace-trained Boadicia (12/1).
By Holy Roman Emperor and out of an Iffraaj dam, this one has an attractive pedigree for this sort of race and was a big eyecatcher on debut at Wolverhampton. Appearing full of running at numerous stages that day, she continually found herself trapped behind horses when attempting to make a move, before finishing to good effect when belatedly finding a clear passage. Granted more luck in running here, we fancy her to get the job done.
2:05 Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes
Listed, 1m
We are moving up to a mile for the classiest contest on the Scoop6 bet, as a field of 10 fillies go to post. Choisya (9/2) and Julia Augusta (8/1) are the two course and distance winners in the field and were separated by just a neck when last locking horns here in November. We rate Choisya as the more talented of the two, but she does tend to improve for her first run back from a break, whereas Julia Augusta has the benefit of a recent run. The pair are tough to split, but both are passed over in favour of the current market leader.
Formerly based in Ireland with Ger Lyons, Many Tears (4/1) won two of her three all-weather starts at Dundalk, the most recent of which resulted in a comfortable Listed class success over this trip – when looking far from fully extended at the line. The quality of the Irish form tends to stack up well against the British equivalent, and she can take this on her first start for James Ferguson.
2:40 Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Roseberry Handicap
Class 2, 1m3f
Our next event is part of the London Middle Distance series and has attracted a quality field for the grade. John & Thady Gosden are always to be respected in an event such as this, making last-time-out winner Intinso (4/1) worthy of consideration. The mount of Hollie Doyle is two from three on the all-weather and could scarcely have done it any easier at Wolverhampton in March. He’s up 8lb in a hotter race but rates a major threat to all.
The best efforts of Ed Bethell’s Chillingham (7/1) would put him in the mix, but he is yet to win on a synthetic surface and may be better over slightly further. Of those available at double-figure prices, Cannon Rock (12/1) didn’t beat much last time at Southwell, but that was a solid effort following a 503-day break. There may be more to come on only his fourth career outing. All of the above can go well, but the one to be on is the Andrew Balding representative Old Harrovian (7/2).
Going in the excellent hands of Oisin Murphy, this son of Sea The Stars was last sighted in the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes and takes a significant drop in class here. A perfect two from two on the all-weather, he won first time up last season and can take this in the first-time tongue tie.
2:50 Racing Value At bet365 Apprentice Handicap
Class 6, 1m2f
Low-key stuff in the only event of the day from Chelmsford. As the only last-time-out winner in the field, Mc’Ted (4/1) duly heads the betting for Joseph Parr. The fact he is in form counts for plenty, but he is lumbered with a 5lb penalty for that success on Tuesday and is zero from 10 at this track – not a compelling stat.
Course and distance winner Reverberation (9/2) makes more appeal and has been running consistently well without winning, but the one to catch our eye is the Michael Attwater-trained five-year-old Come On John (5/1). In his most recent start at Chelmsford, he was beaten only 4½l into seventh, despite enduring a nightmare journey almost throughout the entire race. With a clear passage, we suspect he may have won that day, and he gets in here off a 2lb lower mark.
3:15 Virgin Bet Queen’s Prize Handicap
Class 2, 2m
James Owen’s Sweet Fantasy (7/2) has made his way to the head of the market in this contest for the stayers and bids to add to his trainer’s solid start to the season. The horse also arrives in form, following two hurdles successes, but is yet to run beyond 1m4f on the level, which is enough to make us look elsewhere considering his relatively short price. Second favourite, Novel Legend (5/1), is a winner over course and distance but is fully 17lbs higher than for that March 2023 success. 3lbs higher than his most recent mark and saddled with top weight, he may prove vulnerable.
Circuit Breaker (17/2) looks interesting on his first start for Jonjo O’Neill, whilst Aqwaam (9/1) is a rock-solid performer at this level and a three-time winner on the all-weather. However, in another tight contest, the one to get our vote is Jamie Osborne’s dual course and distance winner, Duty Of Care.
He’s only 3lb higher than for the most recent of those wins – when looking value for more than the two-length winning margin. In addition, he hasn’t enjoyed the rub of the green in three starts this season, missing the break twice and being trapped out wide on the other occasion. Back to his favourite track, he has a solid chance with the trainer’s daughter Saffie in the saddle.
4:55 Virgin Bet Fives Handicap
Class 3 6f
An intriguing sprint contest rounds out the bet, with this 6f affair featuring a mix of grizzled performers and less exposed sorts. Exalted Angel (9/1) and Intervention (7/1) look the most likely of the older performers to prevail. Interestingly, the pair have over 80 all-weather runs between them, but both will be making their Kempton debut here. Intervention has been in the better form of the duo but is 5lb above his most recent winning mark. Exalted Angel has been below his best of late but is now 18lbs below his career-high AW rating.
We wouldn’t put anyone off an each-way punt on Exalted Angel, but it is another Angel who looks the best option for win purposes. If there is one horse in this field who may be ahead of their mark, it is surely the Roger Varian-trained Azure Angel (3/1).
This four-year-old daughter of the speedball Harry Angel is four from four on the all-weather – including a course and distance success. Pouncing late in those two most recent wins, the handicapper hasn’t been able to hike her up too much, and we suspect she may progress beyond her current rating of 93.