Kempton Preview: Nigel’s Destiny can complete hat-trick

Nigel’s Destiny looks ahead of the handicapper and a worthy favourite to complete the hat-trick in the 1m contest on today’s twilight card at Kempton (6.40).

The Jeremy Noseda trained colt come good at the fourth time of asking when making all to score by more than the one length winning margin suggest over 7f at the venue back in October.

The three-year-old was allotted an opening handicap mark of 77 on the back of that success and showed a good attitude to dig deep and find plenty to beat Semaral by a neck over course and distance last time out.

The form has been franked with Jack Of Diamonds, who finished a further 3/4 lengths behind in third, going on to score next time up at Lingfield and Nigel’s Destiny looks to have got away lightly with just a 4lb rise.

Indeed, the son of Giant’s Causeway is due to go up a another 2lb in future races so is effectively 2lb “well-in” at the weights off a mark of 81.

Nigel’s Destiny also looks the type who only just does enough, and that makes him hard for the assessor to get to grips with.

This race also looks weaker than his last, and with the prospect of further improvement to come Nigel’s Destiny is going to be tough to beat in the hands of Shane Kelly for a yard that has a near 28% strike rate with its runners at the track in the past 12 months.

Temple Road has been shaping as if coming back to form and can take advantage of a drop ine the weights to land the 6f handicap (5.40).

Milton Bradley’s gelding has notched all four of his career successes on the polytrack surface, including once over course and distance, and was last successful at Lingfield back in March when scoring by 1 1/4 lengths off a mark of 69.

The six-year-old got put up to 74 for that victory and ran well off it at Lingfield on two occasions to finish fourth.

Temple Road is now able to race in this off 69, the same as than when last successful,and comes into the contest on the back of three solid efforts.

In the first of those the son of Street Cry kept on from off the pace to finish fourth to Salvatore Fury over course and distance, and he has since run two similar races to occupy the same position in contests at Lingfield.

Temple Road should now be spot on to do himself justice following four runs after a break, and in a race in which he should get the strong gallop he needs to be seen at his best looks weighted to take all the beating.

Selections:
4.05: Dusty Blue
4.40: Dutch Golden Age
5.10: Flamborough Breeze
5.40: Temple Road (NB)
6.10: Quest For Wonder
6.40: Nigel’s Destiny (NAP)
7.10: Magicalmysterytour