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15:57 Leicester
The top sprint race on the card here at Leicester looks to be a battle between the old and the new with three year old Four Adaay and eight year old veteran Blue De Vega vying for favouritism.
The youngster looks a promising type who’s been relatively consistent for most of the summer and she produced an encouraging third at Goodwood last time out. Her effort was solid enough but I have to question whether or not that warrants a step up in class? I’m not convinced she’s got enough in the form book, with just one win in twelve turf starts, to be overly keen on her at such short odds. Could she win? Of course she could but I’m convinced we’ll see a few finish ahead of her.
The aforementioned veteran Blue De Vega has something over all eight of his rivals in that he’s the only runner with a former course and distance win to his name. He’s only 1lb higher than his last winning mark and now has the added bonus of being partnered by jockey Tom Marquand. He won at this venue almost a year ago to the day, on very soft ground and he has similar conditions once again. With a win and a second (behind Saturday’s listed race winner Tis Marvellous) in just three starts at Leicester he clearly loves the course and considering on his day he’s contested group races he should find a race of this nature well within his reach, despite his advancing age.
Of the rest stable mate Benefit Street aims to add to the wins he’s already picked up this season and it’d be foolish to dismiss any Kevin Ryan trained runner in a sprint so Stars In The Night is also worth a mention.
BLUE DE VEGA (WIN)
20:30 Kempton
The eighth and final race on the card from Kempton is a Class 5, one mile handicap and it’s safe to say we have an odd sight before us. To see a race of this nature, on the all-weather have an entry from the famous National Hunt stable of Colin Tizzard is out of the blue to say the least, yet here we are with Star Of Valour in the lineup. Tizzard took the gelding under his wing earlier in the year and guided him to success on stable debut. His most recent performance was a fair third but just like Tizzard he looks a little out of place in this one. That being said Tizzard is operating at a 33% strike rate in recent weeks.
The market leader is a former course and distance winner in the form of Proclaimer. Julie Camacho’s runner hasn’t had to walk 500 miles to get here but demands the up-most respect after his victory here last time out. He was backed into favouritism when winning last month and hasn’t been unduly punished by the handicapper. Likely to finish in the mix but this looks a tougher test that the one he won and I’m hoping I’ve pinpointed each way value elsewhere.
Top jockey Jamie Spencer has just the three rides here at Kempton but sticks around for the closer in order to ride Deep Sigh. David Simcock’s charge won a Class 4 contest at Doncaster on her penultimate start so a drop in grade and off just a 1lb higher mark makes her very intriguing. Spencer guided her to success that day so it’s great to see him ride her once more. She may still be yet to claim a win on the all-weather but her two starts on an artificial surface yielded a second and a third with the better of the two coming over tonight's course and distance. She acts well around here, has a top jockey in the saddle, is given a decent draw and also gets a weight allowance so it makes sense to side with her each way at what looks a decent price.
DEEP SIGH (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock