Review of the day

It was nice to see Loose Chips go some way towards righting the wrongs of the weekend, in the opener at Kempton this afternoon.

It was a bit of a shame that Bally Legend couldn’t double up later on the card (as I suspect that would have been exactly what he was doing for a number of you !) – but there you go…

I was actually a little fearful that Loose Chips wasn’t going to get home in the opening contest. He looked a bit sweaty – and was certainly keen in the early stages.
But credit to Noel Fehily who clearly managed to settle him well enough – and still had sufficient in reserve to hold off the late challenge of Ski Sunday.

At his best, Ski Sunday is a decent horse, so there may well have been some credit in Loose Chips proving his master today. I would reckon that he could cope with a rise of up to 7lb in the handicap, for today’s victory…

Bally Legend is almost certainly well enough handicapped to win a chase – unfortunately he wasn’t able to prove it today…

He was unlucky to run into Current Event, who was given a peach of a ride by a 7lb claimer – and never touched a twig on the way round.

Bally Legend is unlikely to come up against such an opponent next time out…

Elsewhere on the Kempton card, Firm Order probably did enough to repay those who were brave enough to back him pre-race – and then lay him in-running.

As I was saying to Reno, backing and laying is an inexact science – and one that can really only be learnt through trial and error (and getting burnt a few times !).

However his BSP was 60 – and he touched 13 IR – so provided people weren’t too greedy, there was definitely scope for profit (or at very least, no loss !).

In the mares hurdle, Knockfierna justified Davy Russell’s jaunt across the Irish sea.

She is a very talented mare –and conditions were perfect for her today.

In a race where there were question marks over the suitability of the trip for many of her rivals – there were absolutely non for her.

Kaffie ran a cracking race, leading until the second last, at which point she weakened out of things.

She will doubtless come on for the run and will take some beating under suitable conditions, next time out…

Over at Ludlow, Carrigmorna King got the better of Dare Me, in what was a match for the last half mile of the contest.

In fairness, the race didn’t take much resolving and I won’t be going crazy patting myself on the back for calling it correctly !

Iminamalabulosaloon got nailed on the post, in the 3m handicap chase.

He travelled like a dream and looked the winner everywhere bar the line, I suspect his connections were left ruing the rain…

Finally, I didn’t quite read the subtle signs right in the bumper.

Devils Dyke ran a perfectly creditable race to finish second (and reward EW support, if that is your way) but he could never quite get to the Richard Johnson ridden favourite, Be Bop Boru.

So, all in all, not too bad a day…

3 winners; 3 seconds and a fourth, from the 7 races I covered – and most importantly, a winning tip ;)

TVB.