DE MEDICI ALL SET TO REIGN
De Medici made a big impression on his racecourse debut at Lingfield last monthandshouldbebacked to follow up on his return to the track tomorrow in the 32Red Casino Novice Stakes.
Archie Watson has made a fine start to his fledgling training career over the past couple of seasons, enjoying notable success on the allweather with Absolute Blast and Petite Jack.
While it is too early to say whether or not De Medici will go on to scale those heights, the gelded son of Makfi certainly looked destined for bigger and better things when seeing off previous winner Completion on his introduction over the mile here less than three weeks ago.
He faces a tougher task on his second start, conceding weight to all but one of his rivals, but he appears an exciting prospect and the step up to a mile and a quarter should not be an inconvenience judged on the way he finished last time.
With the Cheltenham Festival only a week away, the topically-named Prestbury Park gets the nod in the 32Red Sprint Handicap.
Mark Johnston’s inmate won twice on the turf last summer at Haydock and Chester respectively and went on to finish third in a valuable handicap at Newmarket in October.
He has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth on his allweather debut at Chelmsford in November, but the Middleham trainer has his string in good order and it is not inconceivable Prestbury Park could be better than ever having been gelded since we last saw him.
A strong evening fixture at at Kempton features the £25,000 32Red Handicap and the £50,000 ‘Road To The Kentucky Derby’ Conditions Stakes.
The 10-furlong handicap opens the bumper eightrace card and Star Archer is fancied to complete a hattrick for Hugo Palmer.
The Khalid Abdullahowned four-year-old has dominated his rivals twice at Wolverhampton since the turn of the year and a 6lb hike for his latest success does not look insurmountable, with Ryan Moore a significant jockey booking.
It could be a profitable evening for Moore as his mount in the most valuable race of the night, Three Weeks, also holds strong claims.
William Haggas’ charge was really impressive last time out at Newcastle and while he has a bit to find with a couple of his opponents on official ratings, he is open to plenty of improvement.
Alzammaar can rediscover the winning trail in the Injured Jockey’s Fund Novices’ Chase at Catterick.
After filling the runnerup spot behind a couple of useful performers in Brio Conti at Carlisle and Divine Spear at Catterick, Sam England’s seven-year-old was not winning out of turn when finishing alone here back in December.
He was second again behind Barney Dwan in the Scottish Future Champions Novices’ Chase at Musselburgh on his latest appearance, but that was another sound effort and he has far less on his plate on his return to North Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, Anthony Honeyball is keen to step up in trip with Ms Parfois in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, provided conditions are suitable.
The Mosterton handler is favouring a shot at the four-mile event on the opening day of the Festival over anoutingintheBetfredMidlands National at Uttoxeter on Saturday week.
After winning a brace of Listed events, Ms Parfois finished a respectable second behind Grade One winner Black Corton in the Reynoldstown at Ascot last month.
Honeyball said: “As the long as the ground is in and around soft, she will run in the four-mile amateurs’ chase and Will Biddick will ride her. He will come down and school her before the race.
“The race looks tailormade for her. She will get the trip well as she is relaxed in her races, plus she has won around Cheltenham.”