6.40 Kempton: the one race you do not want to miss on Wednesday

6.40 Kempton
32Red Handicap | Class 2 | 6f | 3yo+ 0-105 | RTV

Why is it interesting?

This £20,000 handicap features a number of popular sprint handicappers who have enjoyed success on turf this year.

Show Stealer, winner of a valuable 6f handicap at Windsor in July, has retained her form particularly well and was last seen finishing a close fourth to Golden Apollo in the Ayr Silver Cup in September.

She is reported to be off to the breeding paddocks at some time this winter, and it would be no surprise to see her add a ninth career success before that day comes.

The Richard Hannon-trained Buridan is also likely to prove popular with punters on the back of two wins from his last three starts.

He won on good to soft ground at Lingfield in June before powering up the Newcastle hill to deny Warsaw Road, who reopposes here, by a neck last month. Tom Marquand, who is enjoying a season to remember, takes the ride.

What do the stats say?

This race is only in its third year, which makes it difficult to analyse from a stats or trends perspective.

Dean Ivory, who saddles evergreen nine-year-old Lancelot Du Lac, landed the prize with another experienced sprinter, the seven-year-old Eljaddaaf, 12 months ago.

Lancelot Du Lac: runs for trainer Dean IvoryCredit: Mark Cranham

Hugo Palmer sent out the only other winner, 11-8 favourite Gulliver in 2017.

The Archie Watson-trained four-year-old Corinthia Knight and Lancelot Du Lac are both prolific all-weather scorers, having landed nine wins on sand apiece.

What do the trainers say?

Dean Ivory, trainer of Lancelot Du Lac
We know he’s better on the all-weather than grass and we’re hoping for a nice campaign this winter. I just wish the handicapper would drop him a few pounds; he’s not a young horse any more. We’ll take every race as it comes but there are no plans to retire him just yet.

Paul D’Arcy, trainer of Pass The Vino
He’s in very good form. His last run was on ground [soft] at York that didn’t suit him. He’s a winner on the all-weather and goes there with a good chance. All-Weather Championships finals day is a target for him in the spring.

Pass The Vino: will be targeted at All-Weather Championships Finals DayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Rae Guest, trainer of Show Stealer
She’s been in great form and has won on the all-weather. She's won nearly £150,000 during her career; she’s a star. You’d certainly like one of her every year. She's going to stud at some stage this winter.

Stuart Kittow, trainer of Beyond Equal
He’s gone up 4lb for his Kempton second last week, so we’ve had to find another race for him quickly. He’s up in grade to a Class 2 but if he gets a bit of cover he’ll run very well again. That’s the secret to him – he’s a keen-going horse who needs to get covered up.

What do our tipsters reckon?

A competitive sprint in which it's difficult to rule out any of the ten runners with total confidence. Buridan and Warsaw Road are closely matched on recent Newcastle form and the latter may be able to reverse those placings with the run behind him. Show Stealer has run well in good handicaps the last twice and ought to go well, while Beyond Equal ran well over course and distance last week and is on a good mark if he can back that up. Pass The Vino's form has dipped of late but there have been excuses on each occasion and he looks the type with more to offer.
Paul Smith

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