Kempton preview: Polytrack specialist Dougan the standout punt

David Metcalf | September 19, 2016

Dougan can deliver under title-chasing Crowley

Dougan can maintain his unbeaten record on the polytrack surface by landing the 6f sprint handicap on today’s card at Kempton (16.40).

The David Evans trained gelding has won all four of his starts on the artificial surface and is also 2-2 at the venue.

His last success came at the track back in in April where he came from off the pace and quickened up smartly to land a class 2 contest going away by 1 3/4 lengths off a mark of 85.

Dan Evans’ Dougan is unbeaten on the polytrack surface, and features among Coral’s Kempton top tips on September 19.

Dougan has since posted some solid efforts in similar grade affairs on the turf, including when third at Newmarket on two occasions off 93.

The gelding also shaped better than the bare result suggests last time out at Ascot when 12th of 18 to Magnus Maximus having been set an impossible task from a hopeless position and having since been dropped 2lb and is now able to race in this lower grade class 3 contest off 91.

It makes Dougan nicely treated on the pick of his form now returned to the surface he relishes and another plus is that the son of Dutch Art now gets the services of title-chasing jockey Jim Crowley in the saddle for the first time.

Cryptic the answer to finale

In the 1m handicap that brings proceedings to a close (17.40), Cryptic looks decent value to get back to winning ways now returned to the scene of his sole success.

Trained by Luca Cumani, the gelding opened his account over 7f at the venue when coming from miles off the pace to get up close home and score by 1/2 a length off a mark of 65.

Cryptic is aiming to get back to winning ways at the 17:40.

Cryptic backed that up with a solid second to We Are Ninety at Chelmsford off 5lb higher and the winner, whom he met on level weights, has since won a Listed contest and is now rated 105.

That is very strong form and the selection is able to race in this off the same rating of 70 having posted solid efforts to make the frame in his last two starts.

It makes the three-year-old look on a very handy mark for a stable which is in good form at present.

Kempton top tips

14.10: Kowaiyess
14.40: Draw Swords
15.10: Raven’s Lady
15.40: Hersigh
16.10: Ban Shoof
16.40: Dougan (NAP)
17.10: Sky Ship
17.40: Cryptic (NB)

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