Race Time: 3.25pm Meeting: Kempton Distance: 1m
Full Race Name: Betfred “Racing’s Biggest Supporter” Handicap (London Mile Series Qualifier) (Class 2)
Our tip for the 3.25pm Kempton live on Channel 4 Racing is:
one-mile handicap on the polytrack ends our all weather exploits on television this weekend but with two of the more interesting contenders making their seasonal debut, fitness could be even more important than normal. Almuheet now runs earlier on the card which leads me straight to Made With Love who is another that fits neatly on to the potential improvers list, and with John Gosden in charge of the lightly raced four year old, all things are possible. Runner up on his belated Newmarket debut to Badem (rated 95 when last seen), and then second again at the same track to Dream Spirit (also rated 95), he then took his maiden here at Kempton when making all, after which he was put away over what was left of the winter and returns today bigger and stronger from what we have been told.
Clearly a late maturing sort, we expect to see better from him this season, while his rating of 90 already looks pretty generous in what we have seen so far – no good thing but at this stage, he does look the most likely winner. Saucy Minx had good form last season for Amanda Perrett with wins at Brighton Goodwood, and Sandown (and there aren’t any easy handicap at the last two tracks) before being outclassed in a Listed event at Lingfield, and although she is sorely tempting, four runs with nothing better than a fourth on the polytrack is enough to put us off I am sorry to say (famous last words).
Realize probably brings the best recent form to the table having won at Lingfield (twice) before finishing second on the slower surface at Southwell and will have fitness on his side but really looks as though he could end up outclassed, while we must make sure we don’t get confused between the two “George’s”! George Cinq represents Michael Bell with the excellent Louis Steward taking a useful three pounds off his back, which can only increase his chances. Now a five year old, he has won at this mile trip and at this track (over seven furlongs), and would be up for serious consideration had he been seen already this season, with 161 days off track enough to bring about a few fitness and injury concerns to all sensible punters.
George Guru on the other hand doesn’t have those issues with two runs already to his name this season and his form suggests he could be pretty well in here. Fifth in a Kempton handicap doesn’t look that good at first glance until you see he was less than five lengths behind Tryster (who was so impressive at Lingfield yesterday), after which he was two lengths fifth to Noble Gift at Kempton over a mile and three. Fact is he has never won beyond a mile, which he returns to here, and off a very low rating in the circumstances, he is screaming each way value in our book!