JIBBER JABBER

HONEY DALE ran better than the bare result on her handicap debut here 63-days ago. Dropped 2lb, stepping up to 7f, with an apprentice taking 7lb off, better drawn here in stall 5, she may be able to take a step forward and get involved in the finish. Looks well-worth an each way bet for 4 places at around 40/1.

INTERVENTION is a C&D winner who is down in Class tomorrow and has good booking Mason Paetel taking a useful 5lb off his back. Besides this, the Michael Appleby yard have been amongst the winners (Last 14 days: 3-19, 16%) and the horse is well-drawn in stall 1. I think he looks the one to be on at current prices and hopefully he can go close in this 9-runner affair.

IT'S MAISY is a four-time hurdles winner and has quietly edged down the weights to sit just 2lb above her last winning mark, having been dropped another 2lb by the handicapper. That gives her a much more realistic chance of being competitive again. I also like the first-time booking of Jack Power, who’s having a very solid season (11 wins from 68 rides ??" 16% strike rate) and, importantly, has an excellent record when riding for this yard (7 wins from 26 rides ??" 27% strike rate). Ground conditions shouldn’t be an issue either. If the forecast rain arrives, that’s a plus, with all four of her hurdles wins coming on soft ground.

LE BEAU GOSSE looks worth an interest stepping up in trip to 2m7.5f for the first time looking at Uttoxeter 39-days ago running-on over 2m4f like it would suit. He finished 4th that day, and the 3rd ??" who only beat him by 1¾ lengths ??" went on to win over further next time out. Watching the replay, both horses looked like similar “plodding-on” types, which suggests LE BEAU GOSSE could also do better now faced with a longer distance. There are several other positives too. He’s in good hands with Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, who have a solid long-term strike rate (205 wins from 1,395 runners ??" 15% over the last five seasons). He’s lightly raced, still very young at five, and has been dropped 9lb in the weights after his first two handicap starts. On top of that, Ben Smith takes off a further 7lb, which could be a big help in what may turn into very stamina-sapping conditions if the forecast rain arrives. The application of first-time headgear is another possible source of improvement, and he should also be fitter now on his fourth start of the season.

JUSTUS looks worth an each way interest stepping up in trip with Brian Hughes an eye-catching booking. He has done nothing in two runs back from a 220-day break but they should have helped his fitness and he has been dropped 8lb in the process. The jockey booking is interesting, the horse is down in Class, the Going is already officially Soft with further rain forecast in the area, and I think he could improve for the step up in trip.

SEARCH FOR GLORY looks worth an each way interest in this wide open 18-runner affair. He comes here in good form having finished 2nd of 28 at Leopardstown over the Christmas period. As a 9 year old he also now has the strength and experience to go well in a stamina test like this. A bonus is the race looks like it could be run to suit.

NEMOV looks worth an each way interest for 4 places now fitter on his third start back from a 418-day break. He has a record of a 2nd and a win in his two starts over C&D. He won "comfortably" over C&D back in August 2024 when with Clive Cox off a mark of 73 and having been raised 9lb for that win he has since dropped 6lb back down the weights. He was well-beaten last time but I'm not even slightly concerned about this as he was sent off at 18/1 in a much better, more valuable, race than this at Southwell and having watched the race back he had little chance drawn out wide in stall 12. My hope is that we will see a different horse returned to Kempton, from a good draw in stall 1, down in Class, back down the weights, now fitter on his third start back from a 418-day break, with the Stuart Williams yard in fine fettle (Last 14 days: 4-17, 24%).

IT'S SHOWTIME looks worth an each way interest at a widely available 14/1 as I post this. She has steadily dropped a stone down the weights since August 2024 and went close over C&D, under this jockey, in a similar race to this, three starts back. I can see her being dropped in after having her typical slow break from the stall then finishing fastest of all. Let's hope she gets there in time.

I like the 18/1 for HIERARCHY with Bet365. He is a dual C&D winner who is having a good season and his yard is in form (Last 14 days: 4-20, 20%). He looks a little over-priced and I like the first-time booking of Callum Shepherd. Hopefully he can go well at a price.

WILTSHIRE looks worth an each way interest for 4 to 5 places at double-figure odds having dropped 5lb down the weights for his last two starts. He has a pipe-opener under his belt 15 days ago at Southwell and returned to Newcastle where his record over C&D is a win and a 3rd he could go well from a good draw in stall 11. It helps too that his trainer, William Haggas, has an excellent record with the horses he sends to the track (41-139, 29% SR).

The 9 year old gelding MARTALMIX'JAC looks over-priced and well-worth an each way interest for 4 places now fit on his third start of the season having dropped to 6lb below his last winning mark.

SUMMER EVENING looks worth an each way interest for 4 places having been dropped back in trip this evening with Kaiya Fraser a good booking. She has the early speed to lead from a decent draw in stall 11 and will hopefully be able to hold on for at least a place in this weak looking Class 6 race.