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12:50 Kempton
We begin the Saturday Weekender with the second race at Kempton in the hope that Comeonginger can go one better than when last seen at Cheltenham in December, going down by a short head when his jockey lost an iron going over the last fence. He has a good record here with two wins from three, is proven on soft ground and is re-united with jockey Tom Cannon who has been in the saddle for three of his four career wins.
Balgarry is two from two over todays’ trip and was a ready winner on his penultimate run, staying on well to beat Barrakilla by almost three lengths. However he unseated his rider early on when last seen and will need to bounce back from that today.
The biggest danger looks to be the Venetia Williams trained The Clock Leary who won’t mind the forecast conditions having won on heavy ground earlier in his career and benefits from the 5lbs claim of jockey Charlie Deutsch.
Rouge Et Blanc has a win and a placed effort over todays’ trip and would be considered a danger if taking his place in the line-up, although is more likely to take up his entry over at Chepstow.
Comeonginger (WIN)
15:40 Lingfield
The last race at Lingfield is a class 5 handicap over ten furlongs and is where we find our second selection of the day. Wavelet looks likely to go off as favourite after a course and distance win when last seen in December. She has only raced four times so is open to further improvement and an opening handicap mark of 69 looks a reasonable starting point. However, today sees a step up in grade and preference is for Miss Giler.
Miss Giler is yet to win in eight attempts on an all-weather surface but has placed twice over todays’ trip and ran with credit on return from a short break last time out, finishing in fifth but only three lengths away from the winner. The 2nd (Bank Of Gibraltar) and 4th (Signed Sealed) of that race have gone on to win within the last few days so the form looks solid. Furthermore, a 5lbs drop allows her to make her handicap debut in a 0-70 so she could take all the beating today.
Of the remainder, Chefchaouen is raised just 2lbs for a course and distance win last time out although has only won once in seventeen attempts, while Chella Thriller has a decent record here at Lingfield but is still 3lbs higher than his last winning mark despite not visiting the winners enclosure since April 2013.
Miss Giler (WIN)
15:50 Punchestown
Diamond King has a 4lbs rise for a decent second behind Blue Hell offset by promising claimer Jack Kennedy and although this represents a step up in trip he has won on soft ground and has won four from nine over hurdles so has to be respected. However, the odds look a little on the short side considering the opposition.
Jennies Jewel is the current outsider of the field but has placed five times from nine attempts here at Punchestown and has raced against the likes of Annie Power and Quevega and both previous hurdle wins have come over todays’ trip so despite not arriving in the best form she cannot be discounted.
The Job Is Right has a career strike rate of 53% for win and placed finishes over hurdles and has a similar record both over todays’ trip and when racing here at Punchestown. A current price of around 6/1 looks decent value for an each way play despite there only being six runners.
The Job Is Right (E/W if 9/2+)