Saturday 2nd March
3.40 Doncaster - Some Scope 10/3 (Hills) - Charlie Uberalles 10/1 (365,Lads)
Definatley an open looking race which i should probably leave alone , but stupid is as stupid does , so i felt i had to get involved with the two i liked the look of both at the bottom of the handicap. First one is SOME SCOPE who arrives in the search for a three timer , and whilst its not gonna be easy , i wouldnt bet against him in his current form. Won over 3 mile here last time , slamming The Ferry Master by 7 1/2 lengths , this is his first try at todays distance but i think its something he can cope with as he seems a progressive sort. Two from three over the bigger obstacles and a good chance of making it three from four today. Trainer Richard Hobson has a couple entered in this (other one being Docpickedme and at a bigger price i wouldnt totally rule him out tbh) and has a 50% strike rate when coming to Doncaster this season , Gavin Sheehan takes the ride and hes three from five on the horse so far , and has a 20% strike rate when coming here this term. CHARLIE UBERALLES is my other selection , the bottom weight was a solid third in the Class 1 Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase last time , beaten 3 1/4 lengths , and the fact hes low mileage only having had nine runs to date means he has the scope for improvement i think. Won his sole start in a class 2 so todays slight drop in class wont go amiss i feel and i see him running a big race if hes fit and well. Sean Quinlan on board for the first time and he has a 12.5% strike rate overall here at the course whilst trainer Dianne Sayer can get one ready when she wants.
3.25 Kelso - Aye Right 10/3 (365)
AYE RIGHT has come second (twice) and third in his three runs this season and hopefully can gain a well deserved first seasonal win. Was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by San Brown last time but he was a further 12 lengths ahead of the third home , placed in one of his two starts over this afternoons CD but has won at the course on three ocassions (and placed in another four) from eleven runs overall. Has won and placed in a class one before and i think he can be making his presence felt today.
4.00 Kelso - Special Rate 11/4 (365)
SPECIAL RATE comes into this fine form , has won his last two here at Kelso making his record here two wins and a place from three runs , and hes now won four of his five races since coming back from 145 days off , in fact since April of last year his record reads - 2,1,1,1,1,1,4,1,1 so hes a model of consistency to be honest and if putting his best hoove forward i can see him giving it a good go again to notch another success , you certainly couldnt discount him off the same mark as his last win. Beat Imperial Merlin last time when he fell (2 horse race) , before that he beat Jet Legs who went in in his next race , fourth before that , beat Chti Balko and that one went in next time so the form stacks up for me. Two from three in the class and one from one on this mark. Trainer Philip Kirby enjoying a purple patch at the moment with a 27% strike rate over the last couple of weeks and has an 18.2% strike rate here at Kelso this term. Ross Chapman in the hot seat and he enjoys a good relationship with the horse with four wins from five rides. Has a 25% strike rate in the previous three weeks and a 20% strike rate when coming here this season.
3.55 Kempton - Lilkian 14/1 (BFred) - Airshow 10/1 (BFred)
I think a couple of these could go well at decent prices , first one that caught my eye is AIRSHOW , despite not having won in his five races since returning to action back in December of last year he has been running quite well in defeat , and the fact hes been coming down the weights catches my eye and i'd say he could be in with a decent shout here with the step back up to 6f helping his cause i think. Has won three of nine races over CD and placed in a further two so does pretty well when coming here over CD. Trainer Rod Millman is in great form at the moment with a 43% strike rate over the last fortnight and he sends just this one to the meeting whilst 7lb claimer Jack Enright takes the ride for the first time. LILKIAN is the other i like the chances of , seventh of eight on re appearance last time out so im hoping that he'll have blown the cobwebs away and will strip fitter here. Has won twice and placed five times from ten outings over this afternoons CD , class and draw both okay and has won off higher than todays mark , i think a decent run could well be on the cards. The Dazzler sends just this one to the meeting whilst Luke Catton on board for the fourth time looking for his first win , has a 25% strike rate in the past two weeks and his 3lb claim wont hurt the horses chances either.
4.30 Kempton - Egoiste 9/2 (365) - Stoic Syd 9/2 (365)
Going for a pair who were first and second last time out , the winner STOIC SYD held on valiantly for first , by a neck , and despite a 5lb rise i think he can go well again , although the draw could of been kinder , and theres a chance he could get the three timer. One from one over CD and hes two from two over this afternoons distance , everything looks good for a big run to me eyes. Ivan Furtado sends just this one out to the course and has a 13% strike rate over the last three weeks , Marco Ghiani has won twice and placed once from his five rides to date and he has a 23% strike rate in the past forntight. EGOISTE was the runner up , and i would say that he was tad unlucky last time when going down by a neck , he was coming like the proverbial train and given that the winner has gone up 5lb i would say he has to have a chance here today , the pair of them were a further 3 1/2 lengths ahead of the third and the fifth home , Ballybaymoonshiner , has gone in on his next race beating Captain Wentworth by a neck. Has never won here at Kempton but has placed on both runs over CD. Really cant see him being far away. Kyle Strydom has never won on the horse but has placed in three of his four rides so far , and he has a 20% strike rate over the last month.
5.30 Wolverhampton - Peachey Carnehan 11/1 (Hills)
A few of the runners look as though they could go well but last time out winner PEACHEY CARNEHAN caught my eye and i think he could give the principals something to think about. Has won twice from his three runs this year and i honestly cant see why he shouldnt go well again , does well here at Wolverhampton , the two wins this year both came over todays CD , and hes won six times and placed in a further eight over CD , ive noticed that when he wins he just does enough ie winning by short distances .. neck , head etc .. so a bit of luck in running is needed i suppose. Draw looks okay and has won from higher marks than this one , Michael Mullineaux has a 50% strike rate over the last couple of weeks , whilst jockey Phil Dennis hasnt won for a while but gets on well with the horse having won on him six times (and placing in a further fifteen). Can make his presence felt.
6.00 Wolverhampton - Tathmeen 15/2 (Hills) - Astrophysics 7/1 (SkyBet)
Like the look of a couple in this one , TATHMEEN is the first one , comes into this on the back of a head second to Fantasy Navigator at Newcastle , didnt get a clear run that day so could be out for compensation and has been holding his form fairly well if im honest , if hes ready to roll i think he can definatley go close. Three time winner (and two places) from ten runs over this evenings CD , class and current mark (has won off higher) both have ticks in the right boxes , not a great draw but it can be overcome. Anthony Brittain been i decent enough form with a 15% strike rate over the last two weeks , whilst jockey Harry Russell also been amongst the winners and has a 33% strike rate over the same period and over the last three weeks they have a 50% when teaming up. ASTROPHYSICS is the other one on my radar , hasnt won since February last year but looked good in his last race and his time could be near , was a solid 3/4 length third last time over 5f and i think the switch back to 6f here could pay dividends. The one good thing about the losing streak is that hes been coming down in the weights which has to give him a chance here imo , decently drawn to my eye and has three wins and three places under his saddle over CD. Dougie Costello on board and hes won and placed on the horse before and Tony Carroll isnt in bad form , should be on the premises.
