MR WHIPPED SO TASTY
Stuart Brodkin with the top tips from Starform
KEMPTON – MR WHIPPED won’t be much of a price with the likely withdrawal of yesterday’s Sandown winner Irish Prophecy, but he looks sure to get backers off to a winning start. Trained by the in-form Nicky Henderson, Mr Whipped won an Irish maiden point-to-point and was bought afterwards for 160,000 guineas. The form of that race has worked out well and it could prove money well spent. He should pay back a small chunk of that sales price this afternoon. It might be left to Dan Skelton to provide the danger with Ashkoul, who was fairly decent on the Flat, winning twice in that sphere.
CARLISLE – BRIO CONTI should make the long journey from Somerset pay off for Paul Nicholls. Sean Bowen, pictured, takes the ride on the six-year-old, who won a bumper and two novice hurdles last season, and will have been well schooled for his chasing debut. He looks a cut above these, the pick of whom might be Shades Of Midnight, whose best form was a second over hurdles at Ayr last campaign. He could do better as a chaser.
SOUTHWELL – BINGO GEORGE had failed to win in 22 outings prior to breaking his maiden here last time. He proved a revelation that day, storming clear to beat one of today’s rivals, Tasaaboq, by more than three lengths. Even at the revised weights there is no reason why Bingo George, who obviously relished the Fibresand surface, cannot confirm those placings this afternoon. Big Amigo has won here three times and should give another good account.
SOUTHWELL – STRAIGHT AWAY made his belated debut for leading owner Jeff Smith at Redcar last month, getting home by a neck from Vive La Difference despite showing signs of greenness when hanging left inside the last furlong. Unraced with Saeed Bin Suroor, she changed hands for 50,000 guineas and is now with Andrew Balding. Sure to improve for that experience and has started off life in handicaps at the right end of the ratings. Boots And
Spurs has been in decent form, scoring at Catterick last month and should go well. He has two wins to his name here.
CARLISLE – Sean Bowen can land another winner here via the penalised KATESON, who should come on significantly for the run after scoring art Chepstow on debut. He has a penalty to carry but has plenty of scope for improvement and should defy the extra weight for trainer Tom Lacey, who holds him in high regard. Golden Whisky is nicely bred for bumpers and could be the biggest threat to the selection.
KEMPTON – Nineyear-old SALTO CHISCO looks the play here. He will be partnered by James Bowen, who takes over from Harry Bannister, who was in the plate when Salto Chisco won off today’s mark over fences at Huntingdon, where he had more than four lengths to spare over Lord Ben. That was his third chase win, but he is equally competent over hurdles and looks a worthy favourite. It’s a fairly competitive heat, though, and there are dangers aplenty with Magic Dancer the pick of his eight rivals. The Kerry Lee-trained five-year-old was a good second at Ludlow last time out on his debut for the yard and is expected to run well.