Aintree’s three-day Grand National meeting kicks off this Thursday but our focus remains on the Flat for now, as we look at Horse Racing Tips on the All-Weather cards at Kempton and Lingfield on Wednesday and pick out three standout runners.
5.00 Lingfield – 1m4f Handicap Class 5
BOASTY was a bit disappointing at Wolverhampton last time but he probably didn’t go hard enough up front and ended up getting picked off by rivals with more speed. However, he’s been eased 1lb already for that run and he now gets Trevor Whelan in the saddle who has been firing in the winners over the last few weeks – expect the rider to be more aggressive on Boasty this time.
The step back up in trip is another source of improvement having gone close over this distance previously and he’s ideally drawn for his preferred tactics in stall three.
7.00 Kempton – 7f Handicap Class 4
Having improved with every run so far, VON BAER is interesting in the seven furlong Class 4 on Kempton’s card. He showed a bit of promise behind Ghostwriter at Ascot in September before taking a major step forward to finish runner-up in a Newbury maiden, chasing home a well backed Godolphin favourite.
Von Baer then improved again to be beaten by just a length in a conditions race at Salisbury in October and he shaped like he would relish the return to seven furlongs that day, closing all the way to the line. His pedigree also hints that he’ll improve for this sort of trip given that he’s a half-brother to the useful mare Brassica, whose sole success came at this sort of distance. Most of his other rivals look a bit more exposed and he’s probably worth chancing, despite lacking a recent run. The hat-trick seeking Silver Trumpet is the main danger having been kept busy through the winter but it’s hard to gauge whether another 4lb rise might find him out.
8.00 Kempton – 2m Handicap Class 4
He’s probably going to be the outsider of the field but ZORAN has better claims than his bare form might suggest in the middle distance Class 4 handicap on the card. Emma Lavelle’s representative has run a couple of nice races in defeat this winter, including when narrowly denied at this venue over two miles in November, and he wasn’t beaten far when fifth on his penultimate start either.
His subsequent run at Wolverhampton is probably worth excusing given that he was uncharacteristically slowly away that day and it’s quite possible that this son of Invincible Spirit will be seen in a much better light back at this venue. The other factor that gives him an edge is the potential of an uncontested lead. Zoran’s best form has all come when aggressively ridden and he’s up against five rivals that all like to come from the rear. If he’s allowed to dictate the fractions on the front end, expect him to be hard to peg back here.
Selections
Lingfield 5.00 – Boasty
Kempton 7.00 – Von Baer
Kempton 8.00 – Zoran
By Rob Eddy
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