7.00 Kempton: the one race you cannot afford to miss on Thursday

7.00 Kempton
32Red Optional Claiming Handicap | 1m, 4yo+ | RTV

Why is it interesting?

Kasbaan, who impressed when running out an easy course-and-distance winner in the London Mile Handicap Final last month, bids to make it a hat-trick for Mick Appleby and The Horse Watchers.

Last year's winner Pactolus returns and is one of three runners for Newmarket trainer Stuart Williams, who has breached 60 winners for the first time in his career this season.

William Haggas, who enjoyed Group 1 success with One Master at Longchamp on Sunday, is represented by the useful Seniority. The Queen's five-year-old has yet to get his head in front in 2019 but landed the valuable Golden Mile Handicap at Goodwood last season.

The Charlie Fellowes-trained Chiefofchiefs was unlucky in running at Ascot last time, where he finished fourth behind Bless Him. That form was given a huge boost by runner-up Lord North's easy success in the Cambridgeshire last month.

What do the stats say?

Stuart Williams has saddled six winners from 23 runners over the last two weeks, at a strike-rate of 26 per cent. He saddles Via Serendipity, Pinnata and Pactolus.

Chiefofchiefs has an excellent record at Kempton with two wins from three starts both over course and distance, while Pinnata has a win and two places from three starts at the track.

What do the trainers say?

Stuart Williams, trainer of Pactolus, Via Serendipity and Pinnata
Pactolus is in great form, he loves the all-weather and won the race last year. Oisin [Murphy] is on board and he's won on him plenty of times and we're hopeful he'll run well, but it's a fairly competitive race. Pinnata has a higher mark on the all-weather but he's in good form, while Via Serendipity is going back to the all-weather but won nicely on his last all-weather start.

Mick Appleby, trainer of Kasbaan
He's won well in two starts for us and is in good order at home. It doesn't look an easy race but he came out of his last run in good form and we're hopeful.

Tony Carroll, trainer of Silent Attack
He's not been with us for very long but we're pleased with him and we're looking forward to seeing how he gets on.

Ed Walker, trainer of George William
He's a very consistent horse, has a good record on the all-weather and can hopefully get his head in front.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Chiefofchiefs
He's in good form, I was pleased with his run at Ascot where he was running on and got carved up. The form has been franked by Lord North and I think it was a good race. He's got excellent form at Kempton and a lovely draw so he must have a good chance.

What do our tipsters say?

Lightly raced four-year-old Kasbaan is another success story for Mick Appleby and The Horse Watchers, and he can make it 3-3 for these shrewd connections. The selection landed a major handicap here last time and remains unbeaten on artificial surfaces.
Seniority and last year's winner Pactolus are other likely players, while George William is an interesting contender on this belated return to.
Steve Boow

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