DEMBE is fancied to give his rivals weight and beating in the Unibet 3 Boosts A Day Handicap (6.30) at Kempton on Thursday.
A four-strong winning spree between February and April last year saw the Brett Johnston five-year-old go up 18lb in the handicap to a British Horseracing Authority mark of 85.
But that doesn’t mean to say the assessor has got his revenge.
Although below par at Leicester and Lingfield last summer, Dembe showed more with a course-and-distance third at the end of November.
My selection missed out by just a neck to Mafia Power at Wolverhampton 16 days ago, coming home strongly in a race not run to suit, and can get back to winning ways here.
Mick Appleby’s horses have started 2023 in fine form and WAR IN HEAVEN has plenty going for him in the Top Odds Every Day With BetUK Handicap (3.05) at Wolverhampton.
Exceed And Excel’s son was having his first attempt at beyond on a mile when fending off Miss Bluebelle by half a length over this course and distance last time out.
There is more to come at the trip and Ali Rawlinson’s mount still looks well treated on the back of a 2lb nudge up the weights.
THURSDAY'S SELECTIONS
WOLVERHAMPTON
1.20 ROSE BANDIT
1.55 SERENITY ROSE
2.30 BEARING BOB
3.05 WAR IN HEAVEN (NB)
3.40 HACHERT
4.15 BOOM THE GROOM
KEMPTON PARK
5.30 SUPER MO
6.00 BERNADINE
6.30 DEMBE (NAP)
7.00 KINGDOM COME
7.30 ANNAF
8.00 DANIEL DERONDA
8.30 FAITHLESS INSOMNIA
DOUBLE: DEMBE and WAR IN HEAVEN
