Stabletalk: “He’s always been targeting this race since he ran at Ascot”

3.00 Kempton – Mister Universum and Captain Forez

Mister Universum should like the track and we’ve given him a little time since his debut at Newbury. Just like with Bedrock, if he doesn’t win then he stays a novice until November, and the same goes for Captain Forez. These horses are going in at the deep end but if they don’t win it’s not the end of the world at all. A bit of thought has gone into this. We’re not just throwing the darts at these races willy-nilly.

Captain Forez has always been targeting this race since he ran at Ascot, whereas with Mister Universum we were just umming and ahhing; that’s just the way it’s worked out. Captain Forez has nice form with Capitaine. They meet each other on exactly the same terms on a track that is probably slightly more in favour of Capitaine. If this race was a round Newbury I would be quite bullish. Having said that our horse is an improving horse that we like an awful lot. I do think he will run very well.

3.35 Kempton – Three Musketeers

This horse has really got the hang of things in the last month. It’s his first try at three miles and I’m really looking forward to him running. Three miles on nice ground on a right handed track is exactly what he wants and there won’t be any excuses tomorrow. It’s a very competitive race, and there are a number of horses that haven’t held form for a while so could be well handicapped. There are also a few that are in good form that may still be progressing and it makes for an interesting race.  Three Musketeers has won two Grade 2s for the yard and he deserves to win a big handicap. That would be great.

4.45 Kempton – Frankie Rapper and Diese Des Bieffes

Diese Des Bieffes is a very nice horse. Everyone has it to do against Champ in this race but we like our horse and it will tell us a bit about what we should do next. The same goes for Frankie Rapper, who is more of a long term prospect. You’ll see in the paddock he’s a big horse by Milan so the experience will do him good.

SUNDAY

3.00 Fontwell – Shelford

Shelford had a great time winning bundles of money in France last year, but he has a penalty because of that which doesn’t make life easy. I think over two and a half miles around this track with a pair of blinkers on he can run really well. We have numbers to find with a few but I think he can go nicely.

3.10 Southwell – Shantou Rock

Shantou Rock has to go well. He bolted in last time in a novice hurdle and he has got to close in this.

4.10 Southwell – Sam Red

Sam Red just got touched off last time by a really good horse. He has top weight and he stays nicely so he’s not without a chance.

4.40 Southwell – Classico Dais

Classico Dais is coming back a few furlongs in trip. If you watched his race last time he was running really well at this type of trip so hopefully this drop in trip will be ideal. He has an each way chance of sorts.

5.10 Southwell – One For Billy

One For Billy just ran a bit below expectations at Aintree in the Autumn but he’s a real nice chaser in the making. That said that he should still run tidily.

Dan

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