James Eustace looks to claim valuable prize with rapid all-weather improver

6.00 Kempton
32Red London Middle Distance Series Final Handicap (Class 2) | 1m2f219y, 3yo+ | RUK

After registering a quickfire double at Kempton last month, connections of the improving James Eustace-trained Envoy will be hoping the upward curve continues in the valuable 32Red London Middle Distance Series Final Handicap.

"He’s a horse we’ve always liked," Eustace explained on Sunday. "But he was a big immature yearling and certainly had a lot of growing up to do.

"We have given him time to mature and hopefully he’s now becoming the finished article."

With regards to the light summer campaign given to the four-year-old son of Delegator, Eustace said: "He doesn't like fast ground so we found ourselves waiting throughout the summer for the rain, which obviously never came. That’s why he has run so little this year.

Kempton: hosts a seven race card on MondayCredit: Edward Whitaker

"In the end we just decided to try him on the all-weather to see whether he took to it and that’s obviously been successful."

With total prize-money of £75,000 on offer for Monday's contest, Eustace is under no illusions his contender will have to step up on what he has shown thus far.

The trainer added: "He’s obviously adapted to the Polytrack at Kempton very well and we’re hopeful of another decent performance. It’s nice to go for such a valuable race with a chance."

'We really feel he has the potential'

Beaten into third by Envoy at Kempton last time, the Ian Williams-trained Western Duke attempts to gain a semblance of revenge.

"He hasn't been with us for long but he showed nice enough form last time in the context of this race," Williams said. "He needs to improve on that to be competitive but we really feel he has the potential to do that."

A confident sounding Williams added: "You don't get too many races of this value coming along all that often and we're excited about running him."

Ian Williams: hopeful of an improved performance from Western DukeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Magellan ready to fire

Elsewhere Magellan shapes as an intriguing prospect for new trainer Phillip Kirby. Formerly trained by Roger Charlton, the four-year-old recorded two consecutive victories at Kempton in the summer before disappointing on his last two appearances for Charlton in September.

"It’s his first start for us," Kirby commented. "He’s already qualified for the race thanks to one of his Kempton victories in the summer so it makes sense to go here first.

"It is a learning mission for us but he seems well and off the back of what he’s done deserves to take his chance."

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