Selections for Saturday 6th of April 2024
2.05 Kempton
1 point each way Choisya (7/2 Bet365/ Coral/ Ladbrokes, 3 places)
Choisya was progressive last season progressing through the ranks and finishing her season winning over course and distance against older opposition. That was a Class 2 handicap for horses rated 0-105. She is now officially joint top rated with Mystical Pearl off 100 and Timeform has her 3 lbs clear of the field on their weight – adjusted ratings. She has a great chance of picking up some black type here and at 7/2 she should go close on a track she handles well.
2.40 Kempton
1 point each way Chillingham (15/2 Skybet/ Paddy power/ Betfair, 5 places)
Chillingham finished ninth in last year’s rescheduled November Handicap at Newcastle on his penultimate start last season. He followed that up with a much better effort when a half a length second to Prydwen at Wolverhampton. The form of that race has been significantly boosted since with the winner winning the All-Weather Championship Marathon at Newcastle last week and has been raised 11 lbs by the handicapper in the process. The third, fourth and fifth have all won since and Chliilingham should be competitive after being raised just 1 lb to a mark of 97. He won first time out last season and hopefully he can do the same again.
1 point each way Valsad (20/1 Bet365/ Coral/ Ladbrokes, 4 places)
Valsad has good current form coming into this race and looks overpriced at 20/1. He won last time out at Southwell over 1m 4f off a rating of 90. He has gone up to a career high of 95 today but looks to be in form for his new trainer Jamie Osborne. He showed a nice turn of foot on that occasion and put 5 lengths between him and the field over the final two furlongs before being eased right down at the line. That turn of foot could be beneficial here over the shorter trip of 1m 3f and it would be no surprise if he outran his odds.
3.15 Kempton
1 point each way Spirit Mixer (9/1 Bet365/ William Hill, 4 places)
Spirit Mixer has clearly had his training issues over the past couple of seasons but it is interesting that Oisin Murphy takes the ride on Spirit Mixer today. He progressed massively over his 2022 campaign where he ended up just failing to land the Northumberland Plate off a mark of 97. He was beaten ½ a length that day by the very classy Trueshan. He only ran once last season when seventh at Musselburgh and he would have needed his last run at Lingfield when finishing eighth of thirteen. He has been dropped 1 lb by the handicapper and I am taking a chance on him to show his through colours from a good draw in stall 2.
3.30 Chelmsford City
2 points Win Capulet (11/10 William Hill or 1/1 Generally)
On official ratings Capulet is 7 lbs clear of the field in this race. He is a well bred son of Justify who won on debut at Dundalk on the AW over 1 mile. He was then ½ a length second to stablemate Diego Velazquez in a Group 2 at Leopardstown. He finished the season at Newmarket when third in another Group 2. That form is better than anything on show in this and it will take a progressive type to get the better of this horse. Even money looks more than fair. Top jockey Ryan Moore is onboard.
**Date & Time of next Selections Sunday 7th of April at 10am..