Kempton Preview: Able Dash holds all the aces

Able Dash has a terrific record at Kempton, and can further enhance it with victory in the 1m 3f handicap there today (16.25).

The Michael Blake trained gelding is unbeaten in three runs at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue and, although those success have come over 1m 4f, the five-year-old has plenty of tactical speed and the drop back in trip should not be inconvenient.

In the last of those successes at the beginning of the month, Able Dash overcame a 320-day absence to gamely beat Dalaki by a head off a mark of 71.

A 3lb rise in the weights for that victory looks on the lenient side, given that the son of Dutch Art has had just seven career starts and remains open to further improvement, and Able Dash has also bagged a good draw in stall one.

Another plus is that Able Dash has the services of Adam Kirby in the saddle, and everything suggests he is a worthy favourite to land the spoils.

Acaster Malbis has some strong form to his name, and holds outstanding claims of getting off the mark in the 7f maiden (14.15).

The Richard Hannon trained colt ran a blinder on his final start as a juvenile when beaten just a short-head by Snoano at Newbury, with the pair pulling seven lengths clear of the third.

The winner is a useful sort now officially rated 100, and the form reads very well in the context of this contest.

Acaster Malbis has also ran well in two starts this season, most notably last time out at Newmarket when third of 10 to Carnival King.

This represents a drop in class, and looks a glorious opportunity to Alcaster Malbis to finally get his head in front.

Trainer Clive Cox boasts a healthy 22 per cent strike rate with his runners at the track in the past 12 months, and his Voyageofdiscovery looks the answer to the 1m handicap (15.20).

The four-year-old put in an eye-catching effort on hia seasonal reappearance over course and distance when a staying on fourth of 13 to Mutawathea and is able to race off an unchanged mark of 80.

That is just 4lb higher than when readily landing a handicap at Windsor last June and makes Voyageofdiscovery look nicely treated on the pick of his from.

Selections:
13.40: King Of Country
14.15: Acaster Malbis (NB)
14.50: Full Of Speed
15.20: Voyageofdiscovery
15.55: Substantivo
16.25: Able Dash (NAP)
16.55: Duc de Seville