The Premier Raceday at Kelso on Saturday failed to pass an inspection of the waterlogged track on Friday morning, but some hasty rejigging by the British Horseracing Authority – including a wholesale shift of Chelmsford City’s evening meeting to an afternoon slot – means armchair fans can still enjoy seven races on ITV1.
The televised schedule now includes the Cardinal Conditions Stakes at Chelmsford, a race which carries 30 qualification points for the 150th Kentucky Derby next month in addition to the £50,000 first prize, and the Group Three Alleged Stakes at the Curragh, in which White Birch, third home in last season’s Derby, is due to make his four-year-old debut.
The feature event from a betting perspective, though, is probably the Queen’s Prize Handicap at Kempton, with a 14-strong field racing over two miles.
Sweet Fantasy, unbeaten in two starts over hurdles since joining James Owen’s upwardly-mobile Newmarket operation last autumn, is the early favourite, but she has yet to race beyond a mile-and-a-half on the Flat and this promises to be a strongly-run contest.
Novel Legend, a winner over track-and-trip last March, ended last season in Group One company and is another obvious candidate, but has not been out since October.
Jamie Osborne’s Duty Of Care (3.15), by contrast, is race-fit, also has winning form over course and distance and seems likely to get the strong pace he needs to bring his finishing speed into play. Saffie Osborne takes the reins for the first time and the six-year-old could prove to be the pick of the prices at around 8-1.
Newcastle 1.50 Gastronomy 2.20 Busby 2.50 Westernesse (nap) 3.20 Belsito 3.50 Desert Raider 4.20 Gunlock 4.50 Captain Vallo 5.20 Sydney Bay
Lingfield Park 2.00 Daisy Roots 2.30 Cynosure 3.00 Something To Do 3.30 Mart 4.00 Roysdelight 4.30 Wedgewood 5.00 Ciara Pearl (nb)
Wincanton 2.38 Navajo Indy 3.08 Fashion’s Model 3.38 Force De Frap 4.08 Home Free 4.38 Robber’s Bridge 5.08 Supervisor
Wolverhampton 5.30 Blue Collar Lad 6.00 Far Above Mary 6.30 Tamaris 7.00 Ville Natale 7.30 Seven Brothers 8.00 Pjanoo 8.30 Port Noir
Kempton 1.30 This looks very open for a novice event, but Auric could well build on a considerate introduction with Oisin Murphy now booked to ride.
Kempton 2.05 Choisya improved steadily in handicaps at three and looks ready for this step up to Listed company.
Kempton 2.40 A 322-day absence is a slight concern, but Old Harrovian looked a very useful prospect in the early part of 2023 and has been handed what may prove to be a very lenient mark for his handicap debut.
The Curragh 2.55 Heavy ground is just what White Birch needs for his first run of the season, having landed the Ballysax Stakes on a similarly testing surface in April 2023 on the way to making the frame in the Derby.
Chelmsford City 3.30 Capulet, a son of the Triple Crown winner Justify, is bred for the Kentucky Derby and should at least guarantee himself an invitation to the Run For The Roses on 4 May.
Kempton 3.45 Charlie Appleby’s Devoted Queen still holds an entry in the 1,000 Guineas and will be a short price to make a successful start to her three-year-old campaign.
