It’s jumps action all the way on Monday, with the three meetings coming from Kempton, Ludlow and Musselburgh, with 19 races across a quiet start to the new racing week.
Amongst our fancies for Monday’s racing is a recent first-time chase scorer seeking to double his tally.
Selections
- Ludlow 13.35 – Born At Midnight @ 7/4
- Musselburgh 13.57 – Kilbrainy @ 3/1
- Kempton 14.20 – Dorking Lad @ 4/1
Tip 1
It’s almost a year to the day since BORN AT MIDNIGHT (7/4) fluffed his lines when set to open his account as a chaser over C&D.
He was clear heading for the second last jump, but came down under Harry Kimber with the race at their mercy.
Trainer Bill Turner was patient after that setback, calling it a day for the season, and he was repaid for that approach at Taunton this month as Born At Midnight jumped well on his seasonal comeback and duly recorded his first success in this sphere.
He’s been put up 5lb for that win 11 days ago and, based on the manner he went about it, it’s probable he can build on it now and erase the memories of his late fall here 12 months ago.
Tip 2
KILBRAINY (3/1) might be the answer for Sandy Thomson and Ryan Mania in the Sponsor The Saltire For A Day Handicap Hurdle (13.57) at Musselburgh.
He was third in a maiden hurdle at Perth in June over this trip on good ground and was last sighted finishing fourth over that same C&D on handicap bow at the end of the same month.
That form has worked out quite well, the winner has added two further successes for Gordon Elliott and achieve a rating of 120, while the runner-up defied a mark of 110 over this C&D recently on his handicap bow.
His trainer enjoyed a real purple patch at the start of this month and an improved showing is forecast here for the returning Kilbrainy off an opening mark of just 103 – in a market where recent Sedgefield scorer Half Shot need to prove he can transfer that winning chase form to hurdles from what is a career-high mark.
Tip 3
The Gary and Jamie Moore team can combine for success with DORKING LAD (4/1) in the competitive racingtv.com Handicap Chase (14.20) over two-and-a-half-miles at Kempton this afternoon.
Twice a winner last season over fences at Wincanton and Huntingdon over this trip, he made a pleasing comeback here earlier in the month over shorter, staying on late in the piece to finish third and should be sharper for that effort with this longer trip in his favour.
The handicapper has eased him 2lb for that comeback effort and Jamie Moore – in excellent recent form with a 24 per-cent strike-rate in recent weeks – returns in the saddle now.
