Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Kempton and Chepstow Tips
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Saturday’s action from Kempton and Chepstow on the 27th of December.
Saturday, Kempton
DELLA CASA LUNGA can repeat last year’s victory in Kempton’s TV opener on Saturday (1.20). She’s been given a bit of respite from the handicapper, but looked to be springing back to life here last time when poorly positioned in a steadily run race. Must have a big chance back in a handicap on the better ground she appreciates.
MIRABAD is a sporting pick against two smart horses in the Wayward Lad (1.55). He may not quite be as appealing in the longer term, but bouncing off this surface over two miles could be just perfect for this natural free-goer given how fluently he took to chasing last time. If allowed to stride forward, he could take a bit of catching round here.
SANS BRUIT is chanced in a muddling Desert Orchid (2.30). He’s been running ok this season without setting the world alight, but he travelled nicely enough for a long way at Cheltenham last time to suggest his time wasn’t too far away granted good ground and a falling mark. Cobden is back on board today, and I could see him making a bold fist of this.
KAP VERT looks well worth keeping on side for the time being, and can take the three mile handicap (3.05). He progressed perfectly well over hurdles, but looks a different ball game over fences judged on his Taunton win. He beat moderate horses that day, but he jumped beautifully and showed loads of boot round a sharp track. He’s gone up to a mark that wouldn’t have looked insurmountable over hurdles, and he’ll surely be better now.
WANDERING EGO can take the last (3.50). He’s a bit headstrong and a work in progress, but he’s undoubtedly still progressing and likely had to run to a figure somewhat in excess of his rating to fill fourth in a race loaded with previous and subsequent winners here last time. Even a bare reproduction of that gives him a big chance, but the ground will be quicker and the opposition lesser, both of which make him a pretty compelling proposition.
Saturday, Chepstow
SONIC PIONEER gets the verdict in the first of four TV races from Chepstow (1.40). Macktoad looked good at Sandown, but on real specialists’ ground, while Manlaga is being introduced as though she’s really smart. They make the market, and that makes the selection a nice price given that he posted one of best rounds of jumping I’ve seen on debut from a juvenile hurdler off the flat. He must not be underestimated.
KEABLE has pretty sound claims in the staying handicap hurdle (2.10). He’s not that high mileage for an eight year old, and won a race loaded with unexposed horses at Newbury. He knows how to win, has conditions to suit, and remains more progressive than most of these.
GIT MAKER makes quite a lot of appeal in the Welsh National (2.50). Although the ground might not be quite as testing as usual, there are enough pace pushers in here to make this a proper slog, and this is absolutely what this horse wants: the twice he’s been faced with a real test at a proper gallop, he’s been a clear second to a Gold Cup winner and a staying on third in a Scottish National. Both performances came off a comparable mark, one that has clearly been protected for this with a perfectly satisfactory warm up over hurdles.
LUNAR DISCOVERY looks ready to strike in the finale (3.25). She’s five pounds better with Ben Solo from their runs here last time, and they should be pretty tightly matched – my feeling is that the selection is running herself into form, and that the good form of the stable adds further confidence under perfect conditions.
