All-weather racing at Southwell and Kempton

The usual modest fare at today´s all-weather meetings, this afternoon at Southwell and this evening at Kempton. At Southwell only one of the 7 races has more than 8 runners, and that is the 5 furlongs handicap at 17.05. This looks really tricky as 9 of the 14 runners are CD winners and many of them have already met several times. For example, top-weight Where´s Reiley (David Barron/ Dean Heslop) won over this CD a week ago, with Guto (Bill Ratcliffe/ Kelly Harrison) second and First Swallow (David Brown/ Freddie Tylicki) third.

They should again be involved in the finish and at the revised weights Guto could come out on top this time. The 7 furlongs handovao at 17.40 is also quite open; top-weight Kensington (Alan McCabe/ Declan Carroll) is a distance specialist, but usually shines at the other a.w. tracks, while Young Gladiator (Julie Camacho/ Tylicki) and Whatyouwoodwishfor (Richard Fahey/ Paul Hanagan) were both easy winners here over 6 furlongs last time out.
It is quite a long way from Southwell to Kempton, but Fahey and Hanagan are making this journey today and hope to be rewarded when Ghazwah runs in the final 6 furlong handicap for 3yo´s at 21.30. The obvious danger is Duellist, representing the powerful Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning combination; both of them were easy maiden winners last time.

The other interesting race at Kempton is the fillies mile handicap at 20.00. Most attention will be on the very lightly-raced pair Island Sunset (Willie Muir/ Martin Dwyer) and One Slick Chick (Marco Botti/ Hayley Turner), both of whom won their only race last year but are coming off a long break. Andrew Balding scored twice here yesterday and perhaps his filly Perfect Secret (David Probert), despite muddled form, can be an each-way alternative to the two market leaders.