3.30 Lingfield Captain Kendall 8/1 If fully wound up on the back of a 220 day break and taking to the AW, I think David Evans 3 year old will go very close to landing this hands and heels apprentice handicap on his handicap debut off a mark of 62 as he has been absolutely crying out for a step up in trip. Captain Kendall made his racecourse debut in July 2011 as a 2 year old when running a race full of promise over 6f at Windsor. Settled in midfield of the 16 runner field, Captain Kendall was a bit green in the early stages and was outpaced when the race starting to get serious at around the 3f pole. Under an educational ride, Cathy Gannon took care of him under hands and heels riding where he made some lovely progress in the final couple of furlong as he ran on strongly to finish a highly respectable 7.75L beaten 5th. It was a pleasing effort and the form of that race looks strong. The four horses who finished in front of him that day (3 had the benefit of a run) are now rated 85, 91, 58 (but finished 2nd off 81 soon after this race) and 74 whilst the 6th and 8th are now rated 82 and 87 respectively. In retrospect that Maiden was definitely above average and on debut over what was clearly a trip too short it was a run full of promise. For one reason or another that was his only start as a 2 year old and it was nearly 11 months until he was next seen on the track for what was his debut as a 3 year old in April of this year. Kept at 6f at Bath, Captain Kendall was set a near impossible task against the at the time 105 rated Lethal Force who had finished a close up 4th in a couple of Grade 2s previously (has won one since) but he still ran a race full of promise. Help up off the speed, once again Captain Kendall was outpaced with about 3f to go but he was subjected to tender handling (whip never raised) by Padraig Beggy as he stayed on very nicely to take 2nd on the line to finish 9L behind the easy winner. Excluding Legal Force, the form of that race doesn't look great although the 3rd Chicarito had gotten beaten 0.75L off a mark of 58 on his previous start whilst the last home has come out and finished 2nd off a mark of 70 in the interim period and it certainly appeared in my eyes that he was comfortably the best of the rest that day. Captain Kendall has had one more start which came a little over two weeks later over 6f at Salisbury when again facing a very stiff task against a 106 rated horse in the shape of Fort Bastion who had finished 2nd in a Group 3 and was beaten less than 4L in a Group 1 in his two previous starts and it is of no surprise that Captain Kendall was outclassed by this rival. For the 3rd race in his career, the familiar trend of being outpaced at about the 3f pole was once again evident as he,unsurprisingly, picked up nicely in the final 2f to finish a never threatening 13L beaten 3rd (1.5L behind 2nd). The form of that race doesn't look too bad with the front running 2nd Zhiggy's Stardust (was his debut) running a fine race behind a couple of horses rated in the 80s on his only subsequent start whilst the 6th Choice Words placed off a mark of 67 a month later (regressed since) but in truth its pretty hard to assess bar the visual impression Captain Kendall left. Over a trip that was clearly inadequate, Captain Kendall has achieved an opening mark of 62 from the handicapper and I think it definitely looks exploitable on what he has achieved so far. Whether it was by design or not, I think the fact Captain Kendall faced two impossible tasks against Group class horses on his last 2 starts really played to his advantage from a handicapping perspective and I think it certainly could have helped him get a lenient mark (although I could be wrong). This 3 year old gelding finally gets stepped up in trip to 1m on what is his handicap and AW debut and I really think he has the potential to make a real impact off this mark. Another huge bonus I see for Captain Kendall is that he has only been hit with the whip once in his short career but has picked up under urgings on all 3 starts which is definitely an advantage in this hands and heels handicap tomorrow. Young apprentice Eoin Walsh takes the ride and a handy 5lb off and I've been pretty impressed with him since he has come over to David Evans from Dermot Weld for the winter months and he has already made quite an impact in his short time scoring 3 times in 14 starts for the Welsh based trainer. I have no qualms about his ability and see his booking as a positive. Although Captain Kendall has a 220 day absence to overcome, he ran all the way to the line on debut and on his 2nd start on the back of a long break so I think he has no real issue running fresh and he has a nice draw in stall 5. With Dave Evans having his string in really good order at present, I'm hopeful of a very big display from this handicap debutant and if the step up in trip works the oracle then I am confident Captain Kendall will go close to landing this 0-65 Apprentice handicap.
Morning all Two for me today 1.30 Ling - LANDESHEER @ 9/2 Back down to a career low mark of 60, was second twice before off the same mark & Gollings has booked Spencer to ride. They have an outstanding 25% strike rate and show a profit of £20.58 to a level stake. 3.00 Ling - PORT CHARLOTTE @ 16/1 A fairly open race in which i feel the selection is too big a price to ignore. Lightly raced, she has some good maiden form. In particular when finishing second beaten 10L behind Henry Cecils, 108 rated Chigun. She herself drops to a career low of 67 today and must hold a great chance to be competitive off that mark. Good luck all!
Hexham abandoned due to frost. I was going to do a nice write-up on the beginners chase there but I'll go back to sleep now instead. I'll just offer up The Mumper in the last at Leicester who gets in off a decent mark here and should be capable of progressing again. Best of luck eveyone
luckily a front seems set to come in before Friday (a hangover at Cheltenham should be fun) which is very fortunate with good racing at HQ and possibly Bangor too.
Bangor looks decent Nass - possibly Punjabi v Overturn in the opener It's my birthday on Friday so I shall be at home with my feet up watching the racing
Interesting to see him run at Ascot, I would have thought a trip to Bangor would have been ideal first time up. I am looking forward to the International this weekend, looks a fair renewal
Running scared of Overturn? Maybe he wanted to keep Simonsig and Punjabi apart on debut, so BG can ride both
Intenational Betting: Zarkandar 11/8 Rock On Ruby 15/8 Grandouet 5/2 Any price the others ................. Noel Fehily will ride Rock On Ruby with (presumably) Ruby on Zarkandar I'll be all over Grandouet at 5/2, I think he will be well tuned for this and will win convincingly to challenge Hurricane Fly for CH favouritism
Agree, Oddy re your Grandouet assessment and 11/4 is available in a place. I see that dear old ‘Mother Nature’ has intervened again today and blanked out both cards in the NH sphere. Likewise, tomorrow she is having a similar effect. However, I can confirm that my ‘mole at the Met’ (that’s Office not –roplotian Police) states that Friday, Saturday and Sunday will, in the old South, see temperatures soar back into double figures! Meanwhile, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, people, I really wouldn’t get worked up about Punjabi over the big ‘uns, people. He’s rising 10 and hasn’t run for over 2 and a half years. Even with Mr Henderson on his side it’s highly unlikely that he’ll rise to the top.
hahahah .. nice post Galaxy .. Is there anywhere that this bellend wont go to be published ... and everywhere he lands he causes trouble .. he clearly has major issues ... glad he's gone from these shores ...
Good morning all, and what a cold wintery day it is out there... Nowt doing over the jumps so its a day of poly whats it and sand i suppose... Ling... 12.00 - Isla Lund, 7/2 12.30 - Majuro, 4/6 1.00 - Lady Arabella, 9/2 1.30 - Resplendent Alpha, 4/1 2.00 - Handsome Molly, 13/2 2.30 - Roy The Boy, 2/1 3.00 - Beat Route, 15/2 3.30 - Aquilifer, 8/1 Off to make myself a soup and be back to watch the racing for today, and pick out some from the card at Kempton...
