Going on a Solo mission for a Kempton winner

– You will have to wait until pretty late today for the 32Red Handicap at Kempton, but Solo Mission can reward punters’ patience in the 2400m race.

A beautifully-bred individual, Solo Mission appears to have improved for gelding during the winter and boasts a 50 percent strike-rate for William Haggas so far this year.

Beaten a length on his return to action in May, Solo Mission was soon off the mark at Carlisle the following month, running out a clear-cut winner of what was probably merely an average handicap event.

Waiting tactics were employed on that occasion and again at Salisbury on his next start, but it proved hard work to make up ground from the rear and Solo Mission just could not land a telling blow.

That performance obviously tempered enthusiasm at Ripon, but Solo Mission got back on the right track with a 2.5-length victory.

However he only really putting the matter to bed in the final 200m after kicking for home with over 400m to run.

The handicapper has been a bit harsh in raising him 3kg for that win but Solo Mission clearly has more to give and can defy this perch of 80.

Carol has been consistency personified so far this term and she can keep up the good work in the 100% Profit Boost At 32Redsport.com Fillies’ Handicap.

Ed Dunlop’s runner may only have one victory to her name, but has also finished no worse than fourth in four other outings and remains thoroughly competitive on her current mark.

She was a bit disappointing when only fourth at Chepstow in July and the fact Silvestre de Sousa eased her down ahead of the line combined with a bit of a subsequent absence suggests that was perhaps not her true form.

Clearly counts Snow Bride among her relations and she must surely be a little better than her debut suggested as she tackles the 32Red.com Maiden Stakes.

John Gosden has played a waiting game with this daughter of Invincible Spirit but even when she finally made her racecourse debut at Windsor in July, looked in need of a bit more time still as she finished well down the field in a 2000m maiden.

She has been given time to get over those exertions and it is interesting Gosden drops back to 1600m here.

Rigoletto is the pick in Chepstow’s Equestrian Surfaces Handicap. Luca Cumani has given this runner an entry in the Cambridgeshire later this month and while he might struggle to make the cut, such an engagement suggests he is showing a bit of something at home.

He just grabbed third in the dying strides at Salisbury last time on quick ground, but a little more ease in the surface here is a big plus. – Press Association