Kempton preview: Thane Of Cawdor ready to rule
Published:
David Metcalf | November 11, 2015
Thane of Cawdor has an excellent record at Kempton and can take advanatge of a drop in the weights to further enhance it, with success in the 1m 3f handicap on this evening’s card at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue (20.10).
The Joe Tuite-trained gelding is a four-time course and distance winner, who has also won over 1m 4f at the venue and been placed on five occasions.
In the last of those course and distance successes back in May, the six-year-old scored by 1 1/2 lengths off a mark of 60 and was value for more than the winning margin.
Thane Of Cawdor blew the start completely and was forced to make a move out wide two from home, before taking up the running inside the last to win going away at the line.
It was an excellent effort given how the race panned out, and Thane Of Cawdor backed it up with a solid two length fourth over course and distance off a rating of 63.
It’s fair to day that Thane Of Cawdor has not been at his best in five subsequent starts, but the assessor has finally cut the son of Danehill Dancer some slack as a result.
Thane Of Cawdor is now back down to his last winning mark of 60, and both his last two victories have come off that rating.
This gives Thane Of Cawdor major claims at the weights, and another plus is that he has the services of useful apprentice Patrick O’Donell in the saddle who is terrific value for his 5lb claim.
Chookie Royale cheekpiece success
In the 7f conditons stakes (19.40), Chookie Royale holds outstanding claims now stepped back up in trip and refitted with the cheekpieces.
The Keith Dalgleish-trained gelding is a course and distance winner who ran better than the bare result suggests last time out over 6f at the venue, when fourth to Lancelot Du Lac.
Chookie Royal was forced to race out wide, and got tapped for toe when the pace quickened a furlong from home to be beaten 3 3/4 lengths.
Judged on that effort, the step back up to 7f looks sure to suit, and another big plus is that connections are refitting the son of Monsieur Bond with the cheekpieces.
Chookie Royale’s last two successes have come when sporting the headgear, and on the pick of his form the seven-year-old is the one to beat if they have the desired effect once again.
Selections:
16.35: Multi Quest
17.10: Normal Equilibrium
17.40: D’niro
18.10: Sixties Groove
18.40: Ripoll
19.10: The Commendatore
19.40: Chookie Royale (NB)
20.10: Thane of Cawdor (NAP)
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