Listed race this evening at Kempton

The listed race over 1 1/2 miles at Kempton´s evening meeting at 19.40 CET, appropriately named the Floodlit Stakes, is the most interesting raace on a dull day for British racing. 6 runners, including 2 Godolphins, Prince Bishop (Saeed bin Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa) and Parlour Games (Mahmood al Zarooni/ Paul Hanagan), but neither of them greatly appeals so we shall go with Laheeb (Roger Varian/ Richard Hills).

He has been off since July, and his form early on this season was nothing special, but a return to his smart 2010 form would surely see him home here. Otherwise the main feature of toady´s flat racing is the continued struggle between Hanagan and de Sousa for the jockeys championship. Hanagan leads by 7, and unless de Sousa (just returned from Australia) can make up ground today, the former looks certain to prevail, with only 4 days left. Both of them are riding this afternoon at Nottingham, well as at Kempton, but although they ride in almost very race, winners look difficult and we expect the status quo to be maintained. In our view, Hanagan´s best chances are with Anomaly at 15.00 at Nottingham, and Sarrsar half an hour later, while de Sousa could counter on Smart Steps, also at Nottingham at 16.05.

Over jumps, there are large fields at Chepstow, where at ground is very soft, but tiny fields at Warwick, where it is firm. Ex-German Agapanthus (Barney Curley/ Paul Moloney) is an interesting runner in the handicap hurdle at 14.05 at Warwick. This one-time listed winner on the flat is now on an absurdly low rating, but with runners from this yard, one never knows what to expect.

Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh had a few disappointments at Exeter yesterday, but we expect things to go much better for the duo at Chepstow today, and think that they can win the two maiden hurdles that open the card with Merriam Square and Sullim. The Gossmoor Yank has top-weight in the handicap hurdle at 16.30 and has been off the track for 2 years, but if anywhere near his old form should be another winner for the team.