Matterhorn to scale heights
MATTERHORN can continue his outstanding winter by winning for the fifth time in succession and conquering new ground in Kempton’s Move Over To Matchbook Handicap.
Mark Johnston’s colt has already made himself one of the headline horses of the all-weather campaign, with five victories and one runner-up spot since switching from the turf after finishing third in a Pontefract maiden on debut in October.
Matterhorn has gone up almost two stones in the ratings for his trouble, having proved unbeatable twice each at Lingfield and Chelmsford and once at Southwell.
Only at Newcastle has he met with defeat, by one and a quarter lengths at the hands of Thaayer after trying to lead all the way in a novice race on the Tapeta.
He heads for the first time to Kempton on the back of a convincing threeand-a-quarter-length win over a mile at Chelmsford – a performance which earned another 8lb rise but indicated this step back up to 10 furlongs may bring further improvement.
The opposition, in the opening race on a classy card, is suitably testing.
Executive Force is another bidding for a five-timer – in receipt of 16lb from the top weight. But Michael Wigham’s gelding is a year older than Matterhorn, with plenty more mileage on the clock and therefore has significantly less potential for sustained progress.
In division one of the Matchbook Casino Novice Stakes, debutant Ironclad faces two rivals who already have a win on the board each from their solitary attempts.
Roma Bangkok and Moongazer must therefore concede upwards of 7lb and 2lb respectively to the rest of the 12-strong field - in which Ironclad stands out.
His Khalid Abdullah colours ensure that, and preclude an inflated starting price too of course.
There is more to recommend the colt, however, as a Dubawi halfbrother to the owner’s Group winner Mirage Dancer. It will be no surprise to discover Hugo Palmer’s newcomer is well above average, and he can take advantage of a favourable draw in this mile contest.
Half-an-hour later in division two, Don Jupp has the benefit of winning experience - having scored impressively on debut over course and distance last month.
That means he must give weight all round, but he should be up to it.
The ‘Road To The Kentucky Derby’ Conditions Stakes is a valuable feature race, in which Derby entry Jahbath is well-touted and by far the likeliest winner.
William Haggas’ Hamdan Al Maktoum colt appeared to improve significantly from his turf debut at Salisbury in October, and has since followed that promising second with two wins here before Christmas and then a third in the new year at Southwell.