Kempton preview: Cawdor can collect under Spencer
Published:
David Metcalf | January 13, 2016
Thane of Cawdor has an superb record at Kempton and can further enhance it with victory in the 1m 3f handicap on today’s twilight card at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue (17.10).
The Joe Tuite trained gelding is a six-time winner at the track, and has also run well to make the frame on six occasions.
Four of Thane Of Cawdor’s successes have come over today’s trip of 1m 3f, and the seven-year-old was last victorious over over 1m 2f at the venue two starts back when coming with his customary late run from off the pace to beat Bennelong by a neck off a mark of 61.
Thane Of Cawdor is now able to race off just 1lb higher, and has shown that he can be competitive off a rating of 62 having posted several solid efforts of it to make the frame in the past.
Although the son of Danehill Dancer was not at his best last time out at Chelmsford, that track has a surface which often sees horses failing to reproduce their form and the return to this venue is sure to see Thane Of Cawdor in a far better light.
Another plus is that Thane Of Cawdor now gets the services of Jamie Spencer in the saddle, and he looks the ideal partner for a hold-up horse that needs to be delivered as last as possible.
Confident Chetan can claim spoils
Chetan scored in good style last time out and looks capable of defying a penalty to land the 6f handicap (18.40).
The Charlie Wallis trained gelding is a three-time course and distance winner, and in the last of those successes seven days ago posted a career-best effort to beat Gold Beau by 1 1/4 lengths.
Chetan found himself short of room two from home when trying to make a move, but when he did see daylight stayed on strongly in the hands of Luke Morris to win going away at the line.
Given how the race panned out the four-year-old was value for a bit more than the winning margin, and even under a 6lb penalty Chetan looks fairly treated off a mark of 64 given that he has finished runner-up off 65 in the past.
The son of Alfred Nobel also comes into the contest at the top of his game, and with Morris once again in the saddle a big run looks assured.
Selections
16.35: Australian Queen
17.10: Thane of Cawdor (NAP)
17.40: Cotton Club
18.10: Chookie Royale
18.40: Chetan (NB)
19.10: Bridge Builder
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