Kempton preview: Pharaoh to rule on handicap debut

Trainer Chris Wall has his team in terrific form, and The New Pharaoh can provide the Newmarket handler with another winner by landing the 1m 4f handicap on today’s card at Kempton (16.55).

The gelding has had just three starts and caught the eye in the last of those on his seasonal reappearance when seventh of 11 to Irish Hawke over 1m 1f at Lingfield.

Altough beaten just over 12 lengths, The New Pharaoh was very tender handled and kept on nicely in the closing stages.

It was an effort which suggested there was better to come, and the four-year-old looks a potentially improver now going down the handicap route.

The son of Montjeu is certainly bred to be much better than his opening lowly mark of just 60, and Wall has a tremendous strike rate with horses making their handicap debut after just three starts.

The New Pharaoh is also by far the least unexposed in the line-up, and another plus is that he has the services of Ashley Morgan in the saddle who is good value for his 3lb claim.

Taking it into account, The New Pharaoh looks weighted to take all the beating in what is a weak class 6 affair.

Landwade Lad has been knocking on the door of late and can gain a deserved success in the 1m 2f handicap (14.55).

The James Fanshawe trained gelding progressed in three maiden runs as a juvenile, before posting a solid effort on handicap debut over 1m at Newmarket when third to Black Granite off an opening mark of 75 in a class 2 affair.