Today’s horse racing preview comes from Kempton with two selections from the meeting.
18.40 Kempton – British Stallion Studs EBF Hyde Stakes (Listed) (8f)
Mr Owen (113)
Keystroke (112)
Stormy Antarctic (112)
An extremely tight Listed race here and the best race on the card. Stormy Antarctic took a Listed contest at Chantilly on the all weather last month which was his first success since landed the Group 3 Craven Stakes last April. His career summary when dropping into Listed company reads 22 and having to concede weight all round here he could be looking at place money once more.
Jeremy Noseda won this back in 2013 with Sloane Avenue and is once more well represented here with Keystroke who ran well when runner up in this company when behind David O’Meara’s Salateen, His good all weather form finishing out of the frame on only one occasion which came at Lingfield last time out when finishing midfield in the All Weathers Mile Championships when once more beaten by Salateen. He will have to step up again, however on my ratings he is 9lb well in on what he has achieved at this level.
The selection will be an each way shout with David Simcock’s Mr Owen. He is 2-2 around Listed company with both wins coming at Deauville when trained in France. Joined Qatar Racing back in February of this year, he probably has not shined as expected after a moderate showing in two runs at the Dubai Carnival, however did show improvement when switching to turf at Doncaster back in October when finishing third to Sir Dancealot who went on to finish fifth in the Wentworth Stakes.
He is hard to catch right and needs to show his potential before leaving France, this is not the easiest of races to bring that on, however the booking of Oisin Murphy is a plus and if hitting the frame that would be a solid effort in a competitive field.
MR OWEN : 1pt each way @ SP (BOG)
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19.10 Kempton – 32Red Handicap (15.7f)
Rock Steady (100)
Lord George (100)
Every Chance (96)
I could not split Rock Steady & Lord George to land this race, however the slight verdict goes to Rock Steady who I feel stepping up to this trip just might bring out a win in him. Kieran Shoemark knows him extremely well and his win off 91 around this time last year is probably sufficient enough to be involved here. He has run well on both occasions when visiting Kempton with two second spots off 85 & 87, despite being rated almost 10lb higher now there still looks a solid run for Roger Charlton’s yard.
Lord George also comes into the reckoning, it is slightly off putting that James Fanshawe seems too quiet at present, as the season winds down and the all weather season progresses I am sure he will be back amongst the winners in due course. His entry here has had two runs around here with a 50% success rate which came in a 0-95 last September, he goes well this time of year and there is no reason why he should not run a solid race, just the yards form puts me off.
Finally Every Chance who represents Jamie Osborne here, a consistent visitor to the all weather his sole run here also resulted in a runners up spot in a 0-85 handicap back in February when beaten by 69 rated Kingthistle. Tackling claiming company last time does have it’s concerns and will be hard to withstand some better rated individuals here.
ROCK STEADY : 1pt each way @ SP (BOG)
