DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY JANUARY 10
12.55 KEMPTON
There was a lot to like about the performance PESO produced off layoff at Newbury last time out and he is fancied to step up on that foundation-building run in this similar affair.
The seven-year-old grey jumped and travelled well at the Berkshire venue until a sluggish leap at the cross fence rather put him on the back foot but under a sympathetic ride, he worked himself back into a position whereby he finished on the coat tails of the main players.
Considering that was his first outing for 328 days, he should be all the better the run and being the most lightly raced of today’s quintet, he may also have the most improvement to offer.
PESO – 1-point win@4-1
3.17 KEMPTON
A race with a rich tradition and this year’s renewal brings a nice blend of improving types alongside the usual bunch of more established performers.
Dan Skelton has landed this prize for the last two season, so it pays to respect A Pai De Nom, who has already proved he can handle a big-field, well-run handicap two runs ago.
On form and profile, his two main dangers look to be LANESBOROUGH and French Ship and of the pair, the former could well be the one most suited by today’s test.
Ben Pauling’s inmate first sprung to prominence when landing a handicap at Wwarwick towards the backend of last season and he picked up where he left off at Doncaster on his opening bow of this term.
Always travelling easily on Town Moor, the seven-year-old eased clear on the run down to the last and, without too many buttons being pushed, he sauntered to a comfortable eight length success.
Since that win, the runner-up, Williethebuilder, has gone on to endorse the form and even though the assessor has tried his level best to intervene, the son of Diamond Boy might still have the last laugh.
LANESBOROUGH – 1-point win@4-1
3.53 KEMPTON
WILLIETHEBUILDER (NAP) proved to be quite the giantkiller when capturing a useful handicap over today’s C&D at the last meeting and with the opposition he faces this afternoon nowhere near the same level, Christian Williams’ inmate receives the confident vote to follow up.
Up against the likes of Trustintimes, Wandering Ego and Indemnity, who all brought to the party very strong form lines, you could have forgiven the seven-year-old if he came up a little short, but much to the delight of those who backed him from 15-2 into 5-1, he duly landed the shrewd punt.
To add extra gloss to the performance, his smart winning speed figure was backed up by a final circuit time 5.5 seconds quicker than the opening juvenile contest won by the Maestro Conti and a run of a similar magnitude should suffice.
WILLIETHEBUILDER – 1-point win@11-4