No less than three all-weather cards and no jumps meeting in Britain today but there is a decent handicap at Musselburgh over the marathon trip of an extended two-and-a-quarter miles.
Kitty’s Cove won the corresponding race two years ago from a 5lbs lower mark, but she has not been at her best of late and she wouldn’t want the ground any faster than good. Indeed, she has nothing in hand of Pammi at the revised terms and the latter has been running very well over timber of late. There are few realistic opportunities for horses rated 40 and Pammi must run from 5lbs out of the weights today! That said she is likely to be staying on when others have cried enough in the final couple of furlongs.
Wynford (3.20) has won three of his last four over both codes and was beaten just a neck when losing out at Carlisle on his penultimate start. The selection -9/4 with MansionBet – was given plenty to do at Beverley last time but got Kevin Stott out of trouble in the final furlong finishing with a decent rattle for a stayer and he promises to be at least as effective over today’s trip. Note Paul Mulrennan takes over in the saddle today with Stott – fast becoming the go to jockey in the north – having five good rides at Catterick.
King Of Tonga (3.50) has a course record of 3222 and has an ideal draw for one who likes to race prominently. The selection – 5/2 with William Hill – is 6lbs lower than when runner up over C&D back in the spring and the 5-y-old has won off a mark 15lbs higher in the past – albeit on heavy ground. Danny Tudhope wouldn’t have the greatest record on the gelding, but I do feel connections have found an excellent opportunity.
At Kempton this evening I am sure there is more to come from Zikany who got going too late when runner up over 12f at Salisbury last time. He looked more of a stayer on that stiff track, however, and I’m not convinced this slight drop back in trip will suit. King Of Tsavo is blinkered for the first time and is another I feel has more to offer and his sole career success came over a mile here back in December.
King Of Tsavo was ridden by James Doyle when he broke his maiden here, but Doyle takes over on Irish Legend (8.30) tonight and he gets a narrow vote in the race of the day.
The selection – 10/3 with 10Bet – is unbeaten in two starts on the all-weather and has been running well in defeat over further on turf of late. The return to polytrack is taken to bring about a change of fortune for Hugo Palmer’s Sea The Stars gelding although it should be noted that the 3-y-old holds a couple of entries back over further later in the week.
Well Prepared (7.05) finished last in his two starts at Wolverhampton earlier in the season but he bounced back to form when scoring at Lingfield under Marco Ghianni on his penultimate start. The ew selection – 10s with 10Bet – did finish runner up here when trained by Richard Hannon and I think this step up in trip to an extended mile will suit. Ghianni has lost his claim since he won on the selection back in June so you could say he is 5lbs higher in the weights, but I do feel he is open to further improvement after just nine career starts.
