Kempton Preview: Thomas set to Blossom again

Thomas Brown is in the form of his life at present and can defy a 6lb penalty to land the hat-trick in the 1m 4f handicap at Kempton today (5.40).

The Pat Chammings trained gelding opened his account on the poly-track surface when staying on well to beat Pahente by 1 3/4 lengths over course and distance, and followed up in facile fashion at Wolverhampton nine days ago off a 6lb higher mark of 52.

The five-year-old was held-up off the pace in the latter, and after making smooth headway two from home cruised clear entering the final furlong to score by 2 1/4 lengths in the hands of a motionless David Probert.

Thomas Brown scored in the style of a horse well ahead of the assessor, and it’s no surprise to see him turned out quickly under a penalty before the handicapper has his say.

If turning up in the same mood ast at Wolverhampton, then the son of Dylan Thomas is going to be very hard to beat.

In the 1m handicap (5.10), Party Royal is a fascinating contender on debut for trainer John Butler.

The gelding was a three-time winner when trained by Mark Johnston, with his last success coming in a class 3 at Pontefract back in October 2013 off a mark of 84.

The-five-year-old went to be placed five times last year, including when a close third in a class 2 contest at Wolverhampton off 85, and after a brief spell with Ruth Carr now makes his first start for Butler off a career-low mark of 78.

That is 6lb lower than when last successful and gives Party Royal major claims from a handicapping perspective – especially now dropped into class 5 company for the first time.

Littlecote Lady is another that has fallen in the weights and looks a bit of value to take advantage in the 7f handicap that closes the card (7.10).

The Mark Usher trained mare has notched both her career successes at the track, with the last of those coming off a mark of 51.

The six-year-old is now able to race off a career-low rating of 49, having shaped better than her form figures suggest on her last three starts following a lay-off.