Kempton Preview: Sweet on the chances of Honey Meadow

Honey Meadow has been shaping as if ready to strike and can take advantage of a drop in the weights to land the 6f handicap on this evening’s all-weather card at Kempton (9.10).

The Robert Eddery trained filly has just one career success to her name, with that victory coming at Wolverhampton last December off a mark of 65.

Honey Meadow was put up 5lb for that 3/4 length win, and ran well of her revised mark on seasonal reappearance when a 2 3/4 length fifth of 10 to the now 89-rated Stomp at in a competitive class 4 contest at Windsor.

That is very strong form in the context of this class 6 contest, especially as Honey Meadow now runs off a career-low rating of 62.

A repeat would make the three-year-old very difficult to beat, and Honey Meadow’s last two runs have suggested that her time is near.

She particularly caught the eye last time out when staying on to finish a never nearer 2 1/4 length fifth of 10 to Logans Lad at Wolverhampton, and the booking of Martin Harley to do the steering suggests connections mean business.

Harley was onboard when Honey Meadow won at Wolverhampton, and is now reunited with the daughter of Avonbridge for the first time since.

In the 1m handicap (7.10), Like A Prayer looks the one to beat in the hands of Silvestre De Sousa.

The Ralph Beckett trained gelding shaped with plenty of promise in a 6f maiden at the track last November when finishing fifth to the now 102-rated Glorious Empire over 6f, before scoring in good style on handicap debut over course and distance on his first start of 2014.

The three-year-old then followed-up in a mile contest at Lingfield off 65, where he won going away by 1/2 a length and was value for much more than the winning margin.

Like A Prayer was then not at his best in his next two starts, and was off the track for 93 days until putting in an eye-catching run over course and distance at the beginning of the month when fifth of 11 to Matravers.

Although beaten 8 1/2 lengths, the son of Compton Place was held-up well off the pace and never put into the contest at any stage before making late headway under tender handling.