All-weather racing at Southwell and Kempton

With doubts about the jumps racing today, the two all-weather tracks will keep the ball rolling, although there is very little quality sport on offer this afternoon at Southwell and at the twilight meeting at Kempton. The best race at Southwell is the 7 furlongs handicap at 17.20 CET. Winners are always elusive but in this case doubly so, as Elusive Fame (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning) and Elusive Warrior (Alan McCabe/ Declan Cannon) would appear to have the best chances. The latter is an absolute specialist here, having finished first or second on his last 5 starts,all over this CD, but we have marginal preference for the Mark Johnston runner in view of the excellent stable form.

At Kempton the top race is a 2 mile handicap at 20.30. The one to beat here is cklearly Alsadaa (Laura and Ian Mongan), an easy CD winner last time, but top-weight Right Stuff (Gary Moore/ George Baker), off since last summer, could be a danger, and even more so Sweetheart (Jamie Poulkton/ Neil Callan). The mare has not run on the flat since finishing in mid-field in the Cesarewitch, but 3 weeks ago won a valuable hurdle race at Ascot, an if she can reproduce her form over the sticks to the all-weather, she must have a great chance here.