Nick Luck’s Blog: Killer is no Clown

Nick Luck runs his expert eye over Saturday’s cards from Kempton and Newcastle, and offers up several big-priced selections.

Kempton, Saturday

SPARTAN ARMY might be worth a pretty big shot for the moon at 22/1 in the TV opener at Kempton on Saturday (1.50pm). He’s a massive price, but he has plenty of talent and this is not a clear cut race at the head of the market. Unexposed on the Flat, he appears to want good ground on limited evidence, and he was a bit unlucky to be left in front a long way out last time (still beaten by a fair horse). A nice swinging pace will see him travel well into this, and he’ll want to run as well as possible to get into the Boodles.

SOLO is taken to win a race that Paul Nicholls has farmed down the years (2.25pm). Although sometimes falling a little short of expectations, he’s run some of his better races here, and he doesn’t have much to find with Boothill at these weights. Furthermore, I’m unconvinced this is the favourite’s optimum distance, and I’ll take a chance that a breathing operation squeezes a pound or two out of the selection at 7/2.

KILLER CLOWN is worth risking in the feature (3.00pm) at 14/1. It’s not a given that three miles is his thing, but it is much clearer that he’s a very well treated horse relative to his raw ability. He certainly has conditions to suit, may well appreciate a freshness advantage, and has shown much of his best form at Kempton. The stable has been among the winners this week to boot.

HANSARD looks a decent favourite in the Dovecote (3.40pm) at 5/4. He gave Master Chewy a hefty beating and some weight at Plumpton before the runner-up ran a fine race in the Betfair Hurdle. That should suffice here before a tilt at something better.

Newcastle, Saturday

IN REM is given a chance to take his game to a new level in the Eider at Newcastle (3.25pm). He’s not quick, but he keeps going and there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that he doesn’t want the ground too soft. He is way less exposed than most of these and – while I’m prepared to accept that Kitty’s Light could easily just outclass these off this dangerous mark – there is always more upside to a potential improver at eight times the price (16/1).