BERRY TO SHINE ON MORELLO
NAPPING maidens in handicaps is not to be recommended in the long term.
There are exceptions, though, and MORELLO (5.20, nap) has three important things going for her at Kempton.
Fran Berry’s mount ran by far her best race to date last time, and it was at the Surrey track.
All bar Brighton winner Gypsy Rider are out of form, so given her handy draw in stall two, Morello ought to register her first success.
There are plenty of runners in the second division, but only three in form.
The pin landed on APPEASE (5.55) rather than Arcanista, but Shelley Birkett’s mount has only won once in the last four years since winning at Kempton as a two-year-old so keep stakes to a minimum.
Keith Dalgleish sends RAY PURCHASE (6.25) on an 800-mile round-trip from Scotland for the nursery. He goes up 3lb at the weekend, so is ahead of the handicapper until then.
Mouchee, who improved for the step up to seven furlongs last time, would be the danger.
James Fanshawe’s NARJES (7.55) has only raced over seven furlongs so far.
She finished her race off well, though, last time and is a worthy favourite, albeit she is another maiden in a handicap.
PIRATE LOOK (2.20) is one of the outsiders for his five-runner handicap at Lingfield but his form is the equal of Harbour Rock and Turnpike Trip, the pair that head the market. John Best’s runners tend to do better in handicaps than in their maidens so RETAINED (3.50) should give us a run for our money at 16-1 on her nursery debut.
Pat Dobbs was on Best’s winner at York last month – Eddystone Rock – so it is interesting that he takes over from Kieren Fox, who rides in the previous race before heading to Kempton.
Last year aside, David Simcock has a good record at Chepstow.
KAABA STONE (2.10) is his first runner there for 12 months and it would not be a surprise if she improved sufficiently on her Ripon debut run to win on her second start.
QUANTUM DOT (4.10) has won three races on turf – all at the Welsh track over five furlongs. He is a generous 5-1 to gain a fourth course and distance win.