Arthenus
Home  »    »    »    »  Kempton preview: Arthenus and Bush Warrior the ones to beat

Kempton preview: Arthenus and Bush Warrior the ones to beat

| 01.07.2015
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Bush Warrior has been in terrific form of late, so looks the one to beat in the 6f apprentice handicap on this evening’s card at Kempton (18.15) now returned to the polytrack surface and dropped back down in grade.

The Robert Eddery trained gelding posted some solid efforts to make the frame before bolting up at Lingfield on his penultimate start.
Bush Warrior made all under Tom Marquand and ran on strongly to slam Toast Of New York by four lengths.

The four-year-old got put up 10lb for that runaway success, but showed he could be competitive off his current rating of 74 when an excellent two length fourth of 10 to Hipz in a class 5 contest on the turf at Windsor four days ago.

Bush Warrior will appreciate the drop back down to class 6 company, and may well have even more to offer now returned to an artificial surface judged on the manner of his Lingfield success.

Another plus is that Bush Warrior once again has the services of the highly-promising Marquand in the saddle who is unbelievable value for his 3lb claim in this type of event.

The son of Bushranger has also got a terrific draw in stall one from which to attack, and if bagging an early lead is going to be very hard to peg back.

Arthenus has shaped with plenty of promise in two runs this season, and could well have got in lightly on his handicap debut in the 1m contest on the seven-race card (19.45)

The James Fanshawe trained colt caught the eye when staying on well under tender handling to finish a 1 1/4 length third of 10 to Mustaaqeem in a 1m maiden at Doncaster on his reappearance, and backed that up with a similar display at Newmarket when third of eight to Ashridge Lad.

Arthenus was held-up well off the pace in the latter until making headway a furlong from home and keeping on to be beaten 4 3/4 lengths without being knocked out.

The three-year-old was never put into the race at any stage, and it was an effort which suggested the son of Dutch Art was being brought along specifically with handicaps in mind.

If that proves to be the case, an opening mark of 85 does not look harsh given that Arthenus remains unexposed after just three starts and open to stacks more improvement.

Selections:
18.15: Bush Warrior (NAP)
18.45: Gold Sands
19.15: Hawksmoor
19.45: Arthenus (NB)
20.15: Purple Spectrum
20.45: Majeed
21.15: Surety

«
»

Author

David Metcalf

A lifelong Manchester United supporter, David has over 25 years’ experience in the media industry having worked for regional and national newspapers. He is a huge horse racing, football and greyhound fan and has done interviews on various radio and TV stations, including talkSPORT and Sky Sports, whilst working as a PR front man for a betting firm. David has also written for most of the top Premier League football fan websites, and produced a Cheltenham Festival guide with former eight-times champion national hunt jockey Peter Scudamore, MBE, after helping him to set up a syndicate for his trainer son Michael.