Kempton Preview: No secret about Best Kept’s chances

Best Kept has been given a massive chance by the handicapper and can take advantage to land the mile contest at Kempton this evening (7.00) now dropped in grade.

The colt opened his account at the second time of asking when coming with a late run to win going away by a length over 7f at the track back in October, and was then far from disgraced on handicap debut when fifth of 10 to the in-form Crystal Lake in a class 4 contest over course and distance off a rating of 79.

The Amanda Perrett trained son of Sakhee’s Secret stayed on strongly from well off the pace to be beaten just two lengths, and the winner has gone on to score again since to give the form a solid look.
Best Kept has since run well in five contests on the turf, all in class 4 company, and now returns to the polytrack surface off a career-low rating of 74.

That makes Best Kept look very well-weighted on the pick of his form, especially now dropped down into class 5 company and fitted with cheekpices and a tongue-tie for the first time.

In the mile handicap that opens proceedings (6.00), Severn Crossing looks worth an each-way interest at massive odds now partnered by rising star Oisin Murphy for the first time.

The Bill Muir trained gelding is yet to trouble the judge in five starts, but ran well on seasonal reappearance over 1m 3f at this venue when sixth of 11 to Gallic Destiny.

The son of Authorized weakened late on after being headed just inside the last furlong to be beaten 4 3/4 lengths, and finished just a length behind the fifth home Lisamour who has since gone on to score twice and is now rated 80.

That is decent form, and makes Severn Crossing look potentially well-treated off a rating of 62 now dropped back down to a trip which looks sure to suit.

It’s also interesting that Murphy has teamed up just five times with the stable in the past 12 months, winning once and finishing placed on two occasions.

The Roger Charlton trained Sleep Walk made a mockery of her opening handicap mark when scoring at Leicester last week, and looks a worthy odds-on favourite to land the hat-trick in the 6f handicap (9.00).