Well Chief's horse race preview

1 – Mutamared – Been at the top of his game for sometime now in sprint handicaps and is a course and distance winner when beating the consistent Intrepid Jack back in September 2006. Last seen in the stewards cup where he finished down the field but that was improvement on his Wokingham runner which was a major let down. 7yo and fully exposed he looks a shade past his best and even though a easier race then what he has been contesting he is off a high mark for this handicap.

My Tissue price – 4/1

2 – Viking Spirit – Trainer is sponsoring the races today at Kempton and his Viking Spirit has a live chance in this handicap and has a solid place effort at this track when 3^rd to the top weight in that September handicap last year and meets that rival on 1lb worse terms for today’s race, however that rival may have regressed enough to have the form reversed in this handicap today. Recent winner on soft ground at Chepstow when beating Tony James he was bitterly disappointing in the Stewards cup last time and should go close to amending that defeat here today.

My Tissue Price – 2/1

3 – Prince Tamino – Returned to the track this season at Windsor when finishing 2.25L behind Presto Shinko and needs to improve on that effort to have a chance at landing this handicap for the boys in blue. A maiden winner on the all weather on his 3^rd run and twice a winner in 3yo handicaps last season when running for Roger Charlton. Visor is on today to try and sharpen him up to land this race and he may find the necessary improvement to record his first win for his new connections with the return to the polly track.

My Tissue price – 10/1

4 – Bomber Command – Regular on the all weather with 13 of his 22 runs coming on this surface and one that has progressed up to this level in the last year with his usual pairing with Patrick Hills whose claim has been cut from 7 to 5lbs making life harder for Bomber command based on his earlier form. The drop to 6F isn’t likely to suit as he attempts to overcome a 10lb high mark on this surface from his wins over 7F and is likely to be staying on all to late based on his running patterns over a specialist distance. Beat Moonlight Man over 7F at Ascot but finds himself well wrong at the weights with that rival today and is 17lbs higher in the handicap then his last run on the turf and this looks a tough ask despite his obvious form on the track.

My Tissue price – 14/1

5 – Wessex – Been kept to the all weather this season in which he has fallen in the weights to a mark that cant see him far of winning from. Seen consistently in handicaps around this level and has solid form at Southwell on the fibre sand when 2^nd to Wise Dennis over 7F. Only 2lbs higher then when last successful on the all weather over 6F. Kept to longer distances that may have not seen him get home he is 5lbs lower then when finishing 6^th over course and distance just behind Viking Spirit and finds himself well weighted for a neck distance. Now 7yo its to be seen if he still retains the same ability as old but he has been waited with for a race such as this and has to be off interest.

My Tissue Price – 6/1

6 – Dingaan – Scored at Goodwood back in June in a similar handicap to this and has struggled on the turf since that win and needs a race ran to suit to be at his best, not certain today’s race will suit his stamina he is a course winner when flashing home from last to first down the straight over 7F in a strongly ran race and may just get a little out paced in this handicap before staying on and could easily get placed here today of the same mark as when beating advanced here.

My Tissue Price – 20/1

7 – Woodcote – Drawn in the middle is likely to burst away and make a bid to grab the running rail up front and is certain to make this a true test over 6F but its to be seen if he is in the form that has seen him make all at Ascot last autumn over 5F. Debut on the all weather today this Monashee Mountain gelding is looking for some form after a disappointing campaign, which has seen plummet 10lbs in the weights to his lowest mark in handicaps yet and needs to show a change in form before he can be backed and after running so well in the Stewards cup in 2006 he by passed it this time around suggesting that he is on the down grade.

My Tissue Price – 12/1

8 – Moonlight Man – In a match bet with Bomber Command should be able to come out on top on much better terms then on turf and has more form over this shorter trip then that rival and is a long overdue another try at this trip. Well handicapped compared to his turf mark he has failed in 4 attempts at Kempton 2 on the all weather over 7F where he never got closed to winning having never figured and weakened out of contention at the 6F pole so there could be a case that this shorter trip today will see him back in the winning enclosure. The change of stable may have the desired effect.

My Tissue Price – 8/1

9 – Diane’s Choice – 2lbs out of the handicap and been knocking on the door of late over 5F with two good efforts at Goodwood and more recently at Windsor where he caught the eye staying on well to finish a close enough 5^th to She Minnie. Last seen over six when finishing 2L behind Dingaan and meets that rival on better terms for his first run on the all weather since a close 3^rd over course and distance to Saviours Spirit which was a fine effort and gives him claims from the bottom of weights to go close again under Nicky Mackay who is riding well at present.

My Tissue Price – 6/1

Tissue Prices – Viking Spirit 2/1, Mutamared 4/1, Diane’s Choice, Wessex 6/1, Moonlight Man 8/1, Prince Taino 10/1, Woodcote 12/1, Bomber Command 14/1, Dingaan 20/1

Verdict – An open handicap in which the sponsor could well saddle the winner in Viking Spirit who has solid claims in this race while the proven Mutamared has a strong chance if returning back to his very best, while Wessex is interesting. At the foot of the weights Diane’s Choice could well be much the best in this handicap even though 2lbs out of the handicap.

Selection – Diane’s Choice 2pts @ 16-1 (BF20’s)

Well Chief