Kempton Preview: Shalambar weighted to take the beating

Shalambar has a terrific record at Kempton and can take advantage of a lenient mark to further enhance it with victory in the 1m 4f handicap there this evening (7.55).

The Tony Carroll trained gelding is a four-timer winner at the venue and three of those successes have come over this evening’s trip.

In the last of those, Shalambar slammed Activate by four lengths off a mark of 63.

The eight-year-old is now able to race off just 60, having looked as good as ever earlier in the year when winning a 2m contest at the track by a runaway six lengths off 1lb lower.

It gives Shalambar outstanding claims at this weight, especially now dropped back into class 6 company for the first time since when last successful.

Another plus is that the son of Dalakhani is now reunited with jockey Jim Crowley, who hasn’t been on board in his last two runs, but has partnered him to all of his last three wins.

In the 6f nursery (6.25), Shimmering Silver is a very interesting contender on handicap debut and could go well at a big price.

The Mark Loughnane trained filly has failed to trouble the judge in four starts, but her second run was not devoid of promise and makes her of interest in this.

That came over 6f at Wolverhampton, where Shimmering Silver showed plenty of early dash before keeping on at the one pace to finish a four length fifth of eight to Rictrude.

The runner-up went on to score next time out and is now rated 85, and the third home has also won since and been placed in two competitive class 2 nurseries at Newmarket to be rated 69.

That form looks strong in the context of this class 6 contest, and makes Shimmering Silver’s opening mark of just 57 look potentially on the lenient side.