HORSE RACING: Alan Thomson, former racing editor of the Daily Record, pulls out three more potential bookie bashing tips for the all weather meeting at Kempton on Saturday.
GALA EVENING (5.40) should be worth the wait on an above-average William Hill sponsored card at Kempton on Saturday.
Jim Old’s veteran was runner-up in this Queen’s Prize event 12 months ago, just failing to get to grips with Desert Sea. That excellent effort was preceded by a hurdling campaign, whereas, this year, Gala Evening arrives fresh from a long break. Indeed, his last run came when finishing fourth in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting in June. However, his Kempton all-weather record of 2111 from four visits wins him the vote.
Yellowstone generally kept better company after switching from Aidan O’Brien last year. He won a Listed race at York for Jane Chapple-Hyam and his most recent second place in France came for latest handler Paul Cole. This is Yellowstone’s first attempt on the all-weather and most of his best turf form has come with cut in the ground.
There are stamina doubts over Dance The Star, although he could be competitive if this turns into a slowly-run tactical affair, while Alsadaa beat Satwa Gold over course and distance in February but needs to step up on that form.
The Rosebery Handicap is always a fiercly competitive affair and this year’s renewal is no different. The one to catch my eye at a juicy each-way price is BAYLINI (2.50).
The six-year-old has been kept busy over the winter and is closely matched with hat-trick seeking King Olav on their running here in late February. Baylini is best served coming late off a strong gallop, a point underlined when catching free-running Suits Me (runs in the Listed Magnolia Stakes) on the line at Lingfield in January.
Mark Johnston is well represented and Becausewecan will be popular with punters. However, it was disappointing to see him pipped by 78-rated Cashpoint at Lingfield last week and the handicapper has put him up another 5l for that defeat. Becausewecan was also beaten off a 16lb lower mark here in August and will need to have improved quite a bit in the interim, which is not an impossibility if stepping up from that debut effort.
Top weight Dansili Dancer acquitted himself well first-time out last season and should be competitive, along with Richard Hannon’s Martyr. At a bigger price, the in-form Mafeking is not without hope.
HIGHLAND QUAICH (4.35) overcame traffic problems to score here at the end of January. He also won his maiden at Kempton last season and is clearly at home on this surface. David Elsworth’s charge should be on the premises in a typically open three-year-old handicap.
Tally Ho
Alan
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