Kempton Preview: Foie Gras a tasty proposition

Foie Gras has a good record at Kempton and looks weighted to further enhance it with victory in the 6f handicap there this evening (7.20).

All three of the gelding’s career wins have come at the venue, and two of those have been over this evening’s trip.

In the last of those successes back in March, the Chris Dwyer trained four-year-old came with a strong run from off the pace to win going away by two lengths from Teen Ager off a mark of 58.

The son of Kyllachy backed that up with a solid fourth of 12 over course and distance off 64, but was then not at his best in six subsequent starts and given a break.

Foie Gras was off the track for 136 days before reappearing at Wolverhampton last month and, after dwelling at the start, stayed on nicely under tender handling to finish fourth of 12 to Spowarticus.

That run should have blown away the cobwebs and put Foie Gras spot on for this. He has since been dropped 1lb by the assessor.

Foie Gras is now running off a rating of 58, the same as when last successful and, from a good draw in stall 1, that gives him major claims at the weights now he returns to his favourite stomping ground.

In the 1m nursery (4.50), the unexposed Justice First looks a potential improver now he’s running in a handicap for the first time.

The Ed Dunlop trained colt has only had three starts and, after shaping with promise in the first two, put in an eye-catching and improved effort last time out over course and distance when fifth of 12 to Balios.

After racing in midfield, the son of Zebeddee was forced to switched inside to get a run a a furlong from home and kept on nicely to be beaten 6 3/4 lengths without being knocked about.

That looked a decent class 4 contest for the grade and, if Justice First can build on that effort, he could well have got in lightly off an opening mark of just 68.