Kempton Preview: Childesplay weighted to go well

Childesplay can take advantage of what looks a handy mark to open her account in the 1m handicap at Kempton today (2.10).

The Heather Main trained filly has only had seven starts and posted a series of solid efforts to make the frame on six occasions.

They include an excellent second over 7f at this venue on her penultimate start when unable to match the pace of the 2 1/2 length winner Hill Of Dreams, and a very good third last time out over 7f at Lingfield.

The four-year-old kept on well in the latter to be beaten just over a length, andf it was a run which suggested the daughter of Byron would be well suited by the step up to today’s trip.

Off an unchanged mark of 62, Childesplay is also now 13lb lower than her initial opening handicap mark of 75 and undoubtedly well-treated on the pick of her form.

The selection also remains relatively unexposed and open to further improvement, and with Martin Lane in the saddle this looks a great opportunity for Childesplay to bag a deserved first success.

Equilicious caught the eye last time out and could well have got in lightly on handicap debut in the 7f contest (3.50).

The Charlie Hills trained filly was well beaten in two runs as a juvenile but showed improved form on seasonal reappearance run last month when fourth of six to Ershaad in a 6f maiden at Lingfield.

Equilicious showed plenty of speed to race in touch before keeping on under tender handling to be beaten just over five lengths.

The daughter of Equiano finished just over a length behind the fourth home China Club who was officially rated 74 going into the contest, and that make’s her opening mark of just 55 look on the lenient side.

Equilicious should also be suited by the step up to 7f judged on that effort, and another plus is that her handler has a strike rate of just under 22.5% with his runners at the venue in the past 12 months.

That has resulted in a profit of just over £26 to a £1 level stake, and with further improvement to come after just three starts Equilicious looks decent value to add to that total.