Our horse racing columnist Paul O'Brien takes a look at the runners and riders for the floodlit meeting at Kempton.
Got No Dollars (4.45pm, Kempton Park) @ 2/1
This six-year-old gelding has previously been run over six and seven furlongs and is always in the fray but doesn't quite get the job done at that distance. He saw a marked improvement in form when tried over a mile at Chelmsford in October and November, and a win at Kempton on January 10 in his last run, when he rode prominently and stayed on well inside the final furlong.
As a result of that win his handicap mark has been increased and he's had a three-pound increase in weight but this shouldn't prevent him for having back-to-back wins.
Perfectly Timed (5.15pm, Kempton Park) @ 11/8
You have to sit up and pay attention when trainer Archie Watson and jockey Hollie Doyle team up on a horse making its second appearance.
The pair scored three wins at Royal Ascot last year, and Doyle has ridden over 200 winners for the Lambourn trainer. This three-year-old colt was only sixth on her debut at Southwell on January 5, when he was slowly away and despite making up some ground was never a threat. Major improvements are expected today and he should land this.
Lord Chamberlain is an interesting challenger on its debut and is worth keeping an eye on the prices and if there's enough value could be a possible E/W side bet.
Mr Swivell (5.45pm, Kempton Park) @ 2/1
Came fourth on debut a month ago at Southwell (second was Belcamo) but wasn't ideally positioned that day, after a slow start was soon in touch with the leaders but was kept on the inside in the final furlong and just missed out on third place.
Should improve on that previous performance and reverse the form on rival Belcamo this time round. There are a couple of interesting newcomers to keep an eye on in this race, Remonstrate (which could be worth an E/W punt if the price is right) and Coppersmith.
Aspire To Glory (6.15pm, Kempton Park) @ 3/1
This three-year-old gelding was an also-ran in seven races in 2023 but has come alive in the past two months with the help of promising apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes who scored back to back wins at Kempton and Lingfield. The handicap mark has only increased slightly as a result of those wins and he will only be carrying an extra pound today (3/2/24).
The second-place horse Run Joy Run the last race at Lingfield has won since at Kempton, which further shows his quality, and so a repeat performance should see Aspire To Glory complete the treble.
Ultramarine (6.45pm, Kempton Park) @ 7/2
I was at Kempton on January 6 to see Ultramarine's emphatic win and you could have celebrated early without a worry as he came in by nearly two lengths. Since then this five-year-old gelding put in a good second at Chelmsford on January 11 before a disappointing eighth two weeks ago (20/1/24) at Lingfield.
Clearly he didn't perform well in that latest appearance and will need to put a line through that but the previous two performances show his capability and because of that poor run you should be able to get a fairly decent price for an each-way bet should the market drift. Not a win bet.
Graphite (7.15pm, Kempton Park) @ 17/2 e/w
This 10-year-old gelding Graphite had success in France with its career best being a Group 3 victory at Chantilly way back in 2017. Whilst not quite reaching that level on these shores, he has been a consistent performer in English handicaps.
Third of ten last time out at Southwell on December 29 but was held up at the start and was too far back to get in contention with the top two. He was runner up in previous two races at Wolverhampton and Kempton but at this significantly longer distance he could prove that you can teach an old horse new tricks, and with a good value price he's well worth an E/W bet.
Aidan Andabettin (7.45pm, Kempton Park) @ 10/3
This three-year-old gelding won last time over the same course and distance on January 17. This is his first handicap race and an opening handicap mark of 74 seems lenient and with jockey Daniel Muscutt in the saddle again, he is a strong contender for back to back wins.
Strongest opposition should come from Media Shooter who came third at Lingfield on January 20.
Zooks (8.15pm, Kempton Park) @ 8/1 e/w
Four-year-old filly Zooks was disappointing in her three hurdling appearances at the end of last year, and only managed fourth of six runners in her UK flat handicap debut at Chelmsford on January 13.
On that day she led most of the way but wasn't able to find another gear in the final furlong. As a result she has now been dropped 3lbs in the handicap rating (65) and going up against solely against other fillies provides a chance for a seriously improved performance. Definitely worth an each-way bet from a bookmaker who is paying up to three places.
