Kempton preview: Italian Tom can be numero uno

Italian Tom has a good record at Kempton and can further enhance it with victory in the 6f handicap on this evening’s seven-race card at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue (21.10).

The Ron Harris-trained gelding is a three time course and distance winner, with the last of those successes coming 13 months ago off a mark of 65.

It’s fair to say that Italian Tom has not been at his best is 10 subsequent starts, but the veteran did manage to make the frame on one occasion off a mark of 70 and is now able to race of just 57.

That is 8lb lower when last successful and the lowest rating that the eight-year-old has ever run off is his career.

It gives Italian Tom outstanding claims at the weights on the pick of his form, and the son of Le Vie Dei Colori didn’t shape too badly last time out over course and distance.

This is also a weak looking class 6 contest in which Italian Tom has bagged a good draw in stall 1, and with Luke Morris in the saddle he is simply too well-treated to ignore in this line-up.

In the 1m 3f apprenctice handicap that opens proceedings (18.10), Songsmith has plenty going for him in the hands of crack young jockey Tom Marquand.

Marquand is a rising star in the sport who is terrific value for his claim and looks destined to go to the top.

In Songsmith he has a partner who is potentially well-treated returning to the level having shown improved form since being sent hurdling.

The Lucy Wadham-trained gelding has been rated as high as 125 over the obstacles, which equates to a flat mark of around 80.

Songsmith actually gets into this off just 65, so could be thrown-in at the weights off his current mark.