This is a Class 4 handicap raced over a mile, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.
IN SUMMARY: This is a wide open affair and the Tony Carroll trained GLORIOUS POET is taken to come out on top. He’s been comfortably held on his first two starts for this yard but he’s been dropped 2lbs in the weights and the step back up in trip to a mile could see him improve past these. Cat Silver is another that looks to be on a fair mark whilst any money for Winklemann would make him of interest.
1 WIND IN MY SAILS – Has struggled in better handicaps than this on his last two starts. He was well-supported in a Class 3 event at Windsor earlier this month having been sent off the 4/1 favourite but he struggled to land a blow and was eventually beaten 7 1/4 lengths. This is certainly easier and a one pound drop in the weights is welcome although he needs to improve his form and will need something of a career best to win this.
2 DUBAI’S SECRET – Makes his second start for David Brown today having run a fair race at Redcar at the end of last month. He was beaten 4 lengths in a Class 3 handicap off a seasonal break and he should improve for that now with the benefit of race fitness and this mark which looks workable. The stable are without a winner from their last 8 runners which is slightly off-putting and others are preferred.
3 GOLDEN RAVEN – Makes his second start for Jamie Osborne today having won twice in Ireland for Mick Halford. He was comfortably held off 2lbs higher on his first start at Kempton last month in a similar race to today’s and whilst he should improve for that run he’s unlikely to improve enough to win this off a mark of 83. The step up in trip to 1m 3f is positive and should bring about improvement in this son of Raven’s Pass.
4 HARLEQUIN STRIKER – Steps up in trip today following some moderate efforts on his last few starts. He finished last of eight in a Class 4 handicap in March off today’s mark and whilst he should improve for that run he looks to be on the right mark and it’s tricky to envisage a surge in form here. The stable are profitable at Kempton but they’re without a win from their last 14 runners and he’s best opposed today.
5 DUTIFUL SON – Connections experiment with their runner today by stepping him up in trip. He won a 6 furlong contest at Kempton in March off a 4lb lower mark and he was well-beaten over the minimum trip at Epsom in a tough sprint subsequently. David Egan claims 7lbs today which will certainly help although it perhaps suggests he’s high enough in the weights and he can only be watched here.
6 CAPE BANJO – Sent off the 3/1 favourite earlier this month at Windsor when beaten 9 lengths in a Class 4 handicap. He’s only won once in 14 starts which came in maiden company and he often hints at producing more ability than he actually does. This trip looks right for him but he’s usually worth opposing in this sort of company although he is never far away and it is positive that Ralph Beckett has an 18% strike rate at Kempton.
7 NORTH CREEK – Ran a perfectly respectable race at Chelmsford at the end of last month off a seasonal break. He finished fifth of eleven, beaten 2 1/4 lengths over a mile and he’s stepped up in trip today off the same mark which should be fine. He’s still relatively lightly-raced and he’s certainly not done improving for a stable that are profitable at Kempton (£26.38 profit to level stakes). Enters calculations here.
8 GOLDEN WEDDING – A model of consistency having rarely run a bad race in the past two years and he’s slowly crept up the weights to today’s career high mark of 80. He was sent off favourite for a 7 furlong handicap at Lingfield just 12 days ago and he finished second to a fair sort by 1 3/4 lengths. He steps back up in trip today which should suit and he’s worthy of his chance again although this would require a career best effort.
9 COMMODITY – Showed an excellent attitude last time out to rally and come out on top by a head over a mile. He now seeks a hat-trick of wins today off a one pound higher mark and this step up in trip should bring out more in him although he has looked fairly well-suited to a mile so far. Sir Michael Stoute has been in fair form of late (5 wins from 28 runners in the past fortnight) and Ryan Moore retains the ride today.
10 WINKLEMANN – Has sunk down the weights since arriving in the UK and he’s been fairly well-beaten on the turf this season. He’s down another 4lbs today and he will certainly be falling down to a more workable mark and this step up in trip could be the answer. He’s by Rip Van Winkle so he should have no stamina concerns and Daniel Muscutt gets aboard which is a positive for this stable so he’s worth consideration in this.
11 GLORIOUS POET – Has been comfortably held in two starts this season for Tony Carroll and he’s down 2lbs in the weights following a 5 1/2 length defeat at Leicester in April. This is certainly easier than his last race and better is expected here making his third start for the stable. He should improve for this step back up in trip and he’s still only a 4yo so better is expected here and he could be overlooked in the betting.
12 MULTITASK – Completed an impressive four-timer last season which saw him raise to a mark of 75 having exploited his turf handicap mark. He was sent off the 11/4 favourite last time out and wasn’t beaten all that far in a decent All-Weather handicap at Chelmsford in December. He’ll need to be race fit to score here off a break and he’s one to watch in the betting today.
13 CAT SILVER – Lightly-raced 4yo making his sixth career start today and his second for this stable. He was beaten 5 1/4 lengths at Ascot earlier this month and he looked to be in need of the run that day having faded late on. Harry Bentley takes over in the saddle today which looks positive and it would be a surprise if a mark of 72 wasn’t workable down the line. Interesting in this.