A short and sharp post today, as I got far too carried away with the cards. Some excellent competitive racing and some cracking races to bet with it. There’s a flurry at bigger prices, but pay attention to the points system. The second biggest price is the second best fancy.
I’ll have a very brief note on each runner, but I’m cutting it brief indeed.
Charlus @ 66/1
Charlus @ 66/1½pt Each-Way | Kempton 13:10
T: Dan Skelton | J: Harry Atkins⁷
Result: unplaced – PU/9 -1pts | Took keen hold, in rear, detached and struggling 4 out, hit 3 out, soon pulled up (SP 66/1)
Sock It To Me @ 25/1
½pt Each-Way | Fairyhouse 14:38
T: Phil Rothwell | J: Tiernan Power Roche³
Result: Placed – 2/16 +2pts | Prominent, led 3 out, faced challenge when mistake 2 out, not fluent last, headed run-in, kept on (SP 14/1)
Whistle Stop Tour @ 20/1
Whistle Stop Tour @ 20/1½pt Each-Way | Newcastle 14:43
T: L Russell & M Scudamore | J: Patrick Wadge
Result: unplaced – PU/10 -1pts | Held up in rear, awkward jump 13th, niggled along briefly after 14th, struggling before 16th, soon tailed off, pulled up (jockey said gelding never travelled) (SP 25/1)
Kocktail Bleu @ 33/1
Kocktail Bleu @ 33/11pt Each-Way | Kempton 15:00
T: Chris Gordon | J: Freddie Gordon
Result: Placed – 2/12 +5.6pts | Disputed lead, hit 2 out (usual 3 out), soon led, headed omitted 2 out, not fluent last, kept on (SP 11/1)
Chance Another One @ 8/1
Chance Another One @ 8/12pt Win | Kempton 15:35
T: Emmet Mullins | J: Donagh Meyler
Result: unplaced – 11/13 -2pts | Took keen hold, in touch with leaders, prominent with one circuit to go, not fluent 12th, carried head awkwardly after 13th, not fluent and weakened quickly 4 out, tailed off (SP 11/2)
Charlus is from the Irish handicapper to U.K. handicap system. Moves from Willie Mullins to Dan Skelton and has done little wrong over hurdles.
He won a sixteen-runner Maiden Hurdle at first time of asking, was then pitched in very deep in a Grade 1 (done nothing), returned to Novice company after a summer on Flat to run 2nd of 8 and then fell when in with a chance on last start. High enough mark, but what you’d expect from his form. Skelton has a near 30% strike with the ex-Irish handicappers on yard debut.
Sock It To Me has been on my radar since running 5th of 20 over today’s course and distance, where he was the only runner in the field to make any ground from off the pace. Highly unexposed and that run suggested he was capable. This the first time he has been back over that course and distance and he goes off a 2lb lower mark.
Whistle Stop Tour I’m convinced is hideously well handicapped and I’d had him down as being the victim of some seriously poor rides by Greg Walkingshaw. He now gets an improved jockey back on and interestingly has had wind surgery and gets a tongue tie applied, which suggests he could have further improvement on account of his wind.
He holds a Kim Muir entry and needs to go up in the weights to get in, so they’ll be going gunning, if he’s good enough.
Kocktail Bleu has form circa two miles reading 122, with some seriously good form around him. He ran Baron Noir close, who is a serious Supreme contender for me and has seen the likes of El Cairos off (albeit under a hideous David Maxwell ride). Course form is king at Kempton, and that run behind Baron Noir was a cracking course and distance effort. Huge huge price. Huge huge chance. He is the bet of the day by a country mile.
Chance Another One has some excellent form, and beat Viroflay over course and distance, who has form with the likes of It’s On The Line and No Questions Asked. Donagh Meyley would’ve had the pick between him or Rising Dust too, who also looks an excellent chance, so that speaks volumes for me. Off of 131 here, an excellent chance.
Best of luck with your punting today,
