2.50pm Kempton Tips & Betting Preview 26/03/2016

2.50pm Kempton – racinguk.com Roseberry Handicap (London Middle Distance Series Qualifier) Class Two – 1m 3f

Trainer Roger Varian is another conspicuous by his absence this afternoon as we have seen him in Dubai where he saddled two with good chances, but that won’t stop him looking to pick up the prize money here with Barsanti who has a lot going for him. Despite being a thrice placed maiden, he recently took the handicap route when hacking up in a class five at Chelmsford over ten furlongs, scoring by over three lengths with ease despite meeting trouble in running, and really catching the eye. Connections may have been all smiles at the time but we doubt they were quite so impressed with his ten pound weight rise, but the word in Newmarket is that they are pretty confident he can shrug that off and double up this afternoon.

If consistency is your thing, you won’t want to let Seamus Durack’s Cayirli, an 80,000 Euro purchase from the Aga Khan’s sale and who had what looks to be pretty useful form back home in France. After winning his maiden at Longchamp he went on to place in all four of his other races so we know he has some ability, but he may be best considered as one to watch in our view this afternoon though he may well win races later in the season.

David O’Meara has always liked Afonso De Sousa and even if his consistency has seen him handicapped to the hilt, and if he has recovered from a disappointing attempt at a huge prize in Doha last time out (close to £400,000 first prize in a Listed race!), then he should run well despite his big weight. Admittedly, he hasn’t won in thirteen races now, but has placed enough times to suggest he still has plenty of ability, the only trouble being that the handicapper refuses to relent.

Those looking for a horse who fits the profile will like the look of Pactolus as things stand – a good age at five (10% of winners) as well as his official rating (7%) and the fact that he won last time out (11%) so he has to have a decent chance? Truth is statistics are there to be broken but they can give a clue, and after his battling win at Chelmsford last time out (which he surely deserved after three seconds in his previous four races), he may well be in there slugging it out close home if it turns in to a battle of any sort.

To end with, how about n each way option in Viewpoint, a seven year old gelding in training with the excellent Michael Appleby but without a win in two years! Fact is he can win off this mark at his best (and has done so off of considerably higher in the distant past), and if any trainer can get him back to that sort of form again, Mr Appleby can now he is working out all the intricacies of this ex Richard Hannon cast off who may find his new surroundings rekindles the desire to win again.

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