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15:30 Nottingham
Bad Company has won five times over a mile and two furlongs, most recently when landing a career best effort, in a competitive handicap, at Sandown. He has won over course and distance last year but that was on softer ground. He’s going well and so are connections but he doesn’t have a great weight and this is a harder race.
Noble Masquerade has some good form and has ran well before at this weight. Jockey, Hollie Doyle, and trainer, Eve Johnson-Houghton, are in very good form and should have no problem with the distance, easily seeing out a mile and four furlongs previously. However, that could go against him because he could find this too short. Moreover, he hasn’t got a brilliant record over course and distance and the same applies for the ground. This could be a tall order.
Wink Of An Eye was on for a fifth straight win before he was denied over a mile and four furlongs. He didn’t get a brilliant run that day, so that is another possible excuse. He will be suited to the drop back to a mile and two furlongs and his weight isn’t as bad as it seems, considering his form. He looks like the one to beat and should bounce back from his York defeat.
WINK OF AN EYE (WIN)
18:00 Kempton
Raadobarg has been in good form this season, placing third behind some smart types at Doncaster and before that in a competitive handicap at Royal Ascot. He’s entered into some high class handicaps later on in the year. Connections are in good form and he should be fitter than on his last race. He could prove difficult to beat.
Imperial Sands has course and distance form with some smart types including Mostahdaf and El Drama. He possibly was outclassed at Sandown and has had wind surgery since. Oisin Murphy is always an eye-catching jockey booking to suit. He poses a few more questions than Raadobarg but if he can find the potential he had before his break, he is definitely a major player.
Instead of gambling on one of the aforementioned two winning, I’ve decided to go outside the box. The Turpinator was a course and distance winner at the age of two and was narrowly denied a winning return after nearly two years off the track. He ran a creditable fifth in a handicap at Sandown, last time out, with a large weight. He has a massive weight advantage over his rivals today and on his previous form, he could be worth an each way shout.
THE TURPINATOR (E/W)
written by Kieran McHugh