The top TV pundit reckons Dragon Icon owes punters a win in the 14:05 at Kempton.
ITV Racing is back Saturday with action from Kempton, Ascot and Haydock, starting here with the Group 3 Superior Mile over, yep that’s right, 1m. Decent race this. CHECKANDCHALLENGE is surely the each way value. William Knight’s six-year-old is bang in the mix off a rating of 107 and has run some good races in defeat this season, including when third to Sardinian Warrior in the Paradise Stakes at this track. I suspect Sardinian Warrior would have been one of the best milers around if he’d not got injured, and in second that day was Docklands, the subsequent Queen Anne hero. On that run he would have solid each-way chances. Callum Shepherd a very useful jockey booking.
13:35 Kempton – Kalpana
The Group 3 September Stakes over 1m4f. This is a decent renewal but on all we know KALPANA should be too good for Giavellotto at this trip. Coline Keane rides the former Group 1 winner for Andrew Balding and the pair come into this on the back of as second to Calandagan in the King George at Ascot which is of course top class form. Of course Kalpana is also the defending champion in this race which is a plus. Should be too classy.
13:50 Haydock – Bow Echo
A Listed contest for juveniles over 1m. Publish might just be too good. But BOW ECHO blew me away at Newbury when he won a little race in mid August and I’ll chance him in what is obviously a bit of a guessing game. I suspect the race wasn’t that deep, but Bow Echo is out of a smart dam who’s a half sister to the high class Royal Rhyme. He missed the break, but cruised to victory and looked really good. An entry in the Group 2 Champagne at Doncaster also suggested George Boughey thought he was useful. Billy Loughnane rides again.
A big handicap over 1m. DRAGON ICON was back to a bit of form at Kempton last time and returns to the track off the same mark with cheek pieces added, suggesting Roger Varian thinks there is more to come. Once rated 95, he is now down to 84 but kept on really well to the line last time and I really feel he’s better than he’s shown. That all said he owes us punters a bit having been a beaten favourite on six of his last eight starts!
Saturday’s Jackpot is up for GRABS IN PADDY’S eliminator racing game
A handicap over 1m6f. If the rain comes I’d love to have a few quid each way on FANTASY WORLD for Andrew Balding and PJ McDonald. My selection could only finish fifth in the Melrose at York, but that was on good to firm ground and he’d impressed in the mud at both Yarmouth in the Racing League for my team and in a little race at Ffos Las. Clearly he goes well with some juice and he might be better than the Melrose performance suggests.
Here’s a handicap over 7f. This is tough. NATIVE WARRIOR will surely take all the beating under Jamie Spencer after a fine third to the re-opposing Great Acclaim at Glorious Goodwood. Bumped at the start and slow into stride, Native Warrior was short of room a furlong out before keeping on and being hampered again close home. Basically, he was very unlucky and he goes from the same mark here of 95. He’s run well at Ascot before when third in a Britannia. Karl Burke is the trainer.
The Old Borough Cup Handicap over 1m6f. I don’t know whether CABALLO DE MAR is up to winning a race like this off 99, but he’s been admirable for George Scott and even in defeat has been superb including in the Chester Cup off 88 and in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot off 97. He stays well and has a turn of speed and is basically just a terrific stick. Another Callum Shepherd ride.
A handicap for 3yo over 1m4f. Nightwalker in a handicap! Who would have thought it? TENABILITY did this column a good turn when scoring at the Shergar Cup last time and I see no reason why he won’t go in again for William Haggas. He went up 4lb for his last Ascot win which is very fair as I suspect he was much the best horse. Cieren Fallon rides.
The big one of the day in the Group 1 Sprint Cup over 6f. KIND OF BLUE was back in form at the Curragh last time and should have his ideal conditions to run a big one for James Fanshawe and Danny Muscutt. Basically the Wathnan purchase has been poor in 2025, having ended last term with success in the Group 1 success in the mud at Ascot. The third, though, to Bucanero Fuerte was finally a step in the right direction and he might just be a horse who is better in the Autumn when some are deteriorating. James Doyle has ditched him for Lazzat was is totally understandable. But Kind of Blue was second in this last year and has an eachway chance. My biggest concern is Stall 19. He was in 5 last year and the first high number was back in seventh place. High numbers clearly had a disadvantage then.
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