Kingdom to rule at Chelmsford
MIDDLE KINGDOM can keep his unbeaten record intact with victory in the Bet toteexacta At betfred.com Handicap at Chelmsford.
John Gosden’s colt has already shown a liking for a synthetic surface, having impressed on his racecourse debut at Newcastle 12 months ago, before making a successful reappearance in a handicap at Newmarket’s Craven meeting in April.
The War Front colt - who cost an eye-watering 775,000 guineas as a yearling - has presumably had his issues since, as he not made a competitive appearance in the subsequent seven months.
However, the form of his Newmarket triumph is seriously impressive, with the runner-up, Euginio, and the third, Bin Battuta, both now rated in excess of 100.
Gosden would not be bringing Middle Kingdom out at this stage of the year half-cooked and running off a mark of 94 with his three-year-old allowance, he looks an attractive betting proposition.
Procedure is not difficult to recommend in the Betfred-sponsored nursery.
The Cheveley Park-owned grey has shaped with genuine promise on each of her three starts to date, particularly when mowed down late on her second visit to Kempton a couple of weeks ago.
She only ran out of gas in the dying strides on that occasion, having pulled for her head in the early stages, and there is definitely improvement in the tank.
If some of that power can be harnessed on her handicap debut, an opening perch of 72 could look very generous.
Fergal O’Brien introduces his highclass bumper mare Cap Soleil to the jumping scene in the CSP Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.
The Naunton-based trainer has his string in tremendous form at this early stage of the season and this four-year-old will be one of his biggest hopes for the coming months.
She justified market confidence when bolting up on her National Hunt Flat race debut at this venue last December before claiming Listed prizes at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and at Sandown in March.
Recent results suggests the yard’s runners are well forward and providing Cap Soleil’s jumping stands up to the test, she should prove very difficult to beat. (12) C Cox 9-7 (BF) ..................... L Morris (48) Ed Walker 9-7 ............................. L Keniry (48) E Dunlop 9-5 .............. Oisin Murphy (16) Sir M Stoute 9-4 (BF) ...................... W Buick (74) M Bell 9-4 (D) ................... Daniel Tudhope (35) J Osborne 9-3 (CD) ......................... D Costello (22) R Hannon 9-2 ...................................... S Levey (37) J Fanshawe 9-1 .............................. D Muscutt (15) P McBride 8-13 ........................... Finley Marsh (5) BETTING: 2 Procedure, 4 Vegas Boy, 11-2 Swing Out Sister, 7 Indian Warrior, 10 Blackheath, Carp Kid, 12 First Drive, Expelled, 25 Image.
6-4fav Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Perfect Hustler at Kempton 6f 2yo nov stks (5) pol in Oct. 7-4fav Chased leaders, led over 1f out, drew clear inside final furlong, won at Chelmsford City 6f 2yo hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct beating Hope And Glory by 5l, 14 ran.
3-1fav In touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Big Time Maybe at Wolverhampton 5f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) in Oct.
11-2 Chased leaders, went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on, no impression on winner, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Armed Response at Newcastle 6f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) in Sep.
7-2fav Dwelt in rear, bumped over 5f out, headway over 2f out, every chance whe ran green and hung left 1f out, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr beating Euginio by nk, 10 ran. 4-1fav Chased leaders, closed 2f out, led over 1f out, clear briefly inside final furlong, edged left, stayed on, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Sep beating Abdon by 1/2l, 8 ran. 14-1 Held up towards rear, headway on outside 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, soon switched right, went 2nd inside final furlong, edged left and closed on winner, unable to challenge, lost 2nd last strides, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Petite Jack at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Sep. FIRMDECISIONS (5) D Ivory 7 9-8 (CD2) ............... J Duern (3) SUMMER ICON (31) M Channon 4 9-8 (D2) ..... C Shepherd (3) KENSTONE (26) A Wintle 4 9-8 (CD) ............... Finley Marsh (5) PEARL SPECTRE (18) P McEntee 6 9-7 (CD)... Nicola Currie (7) LUNAR DEITY (24) S C Williams 8 9-5 (C) ........... Oisin Murphy OUTER SPACE (15) J Osborne 6 9-4 (CD) .................. D Costello TROPICAL ROCK (16) R Beckett 3 9-4 .................. R Kingscote CALL OUT LOUD (20) M Appleby 5 9-3 (D5) ......... A Rawlinson HAMMER GUN (9) D Shaw 4 9-2 (C, D2) ................. P Mathers MIDNIGHT MACCHIATO (14) D Brown 4 8-13 (D) ...J P Spencer ROUGE NUAGE (34) C Allen 7 8-13 (D5) ....................... J Quinn TAI SING YEH (29) C Hills 3 8-12 (D) ......................... D Probert MIRACLE GARDEN (34) I Williams 5 8-12 ............. S Donohoe TADAANY (14) Mrs R Carr 5 8-9 ............................. J P Sullivan BETTING: 5 Tropical Rock, 11-2 Midnight Macchiato, 6 Miracle Garden, 7 Pearl Spectre, 8 Call Out Loud, 10 Tadaany, 12 Tai Sing Yeh, Lunar Deity, 14 Others. (13) C Allen 4 9-1 ................. Nicola Currie (7) (18) D Shaw 3 9-0 ......... P Mathers (8) M Botti 3 9-0 ........................................ R Tate (31) B Barr 3 9-0 ................. L Morris (21) I Mohammed 3 9-0 ...... S Levey (13)DBrown39-0 ............................ RWinston (40) C Hills 3 9-0 ................................... D Probert (89) B Barr 3 9-0 ........... Joshua Bryan (5) BETTING: 7-4 Domitilla, 2 Ifubelieveindreams, 7-2 Manaahil, 8 Greenview Paradise, 12 Spike’s Princess, 50 Moving Robe, Like Minds, 66 Born For Champagne.