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Kempton Sat Apr 15 2yo race review

Kempton 2.00 Sat Apr 15
EBF Novice Stakes
5f, Class 4, 1m1.74s
(slow by 3.04s)
Standard

Plunger, Mar 31. Dam very precocious 2yo, winning four of her first six starts including a Listed and a G3 in France, peaking at OR109. Sat outside the leader after interference out of the gates. Challenged on straightening under confident ride, took control, kept on nicely.

Dragon's Teeth, Apr 15. Backed up from the weaker division of the Brocklesby where he led and found nothing under pressure. Well backed into 2/1 (they bet 5/1 in the morning). Led, not a lot of peace, properly challenged on straightening, started to weakened but hung on well to retain second.

Quick Skips Lad. Third start in a fortnight for this one. Sat on the rail behind the leaders, switched into the clear over a furlong out, kept working but just unable to claim second.

Kodiac Express, Apr 12. Sold twice as a yearling, €64k and then 50k gns eight months later. Second foal, half-sister yet to race. The Racing Post claimed this was the best backed horse of the race yet it drifted from 4s to 7s. Sat fourth, outpaced on the bend, kept on without making any ground.

Afterthisone. Backed up after terrible run in the Brocklesby (Div I), and didn't help his cause by playing up behind the gates. Beaten long way out, already gelded, good luck trying to find something in this horse.

Heavenly Pulse, Mar 23. €34k yearling, dam won four of 16, 5-6f specialist, peaked at OR91, retired after 3yo season. Fractious coming onto the track and then behind the barrier. Well supported, but had ran his race before the gates opened. Forgive.

KEY POINTS
I backed the winner on breeding and connections, plus the others didn't look crash hot. Decent win without being anything special, rated one point lower on RPR than Friday's race at Newcastle - not strong. Forget Heavenly Pulse went around and Dragon's Teeth will eventually find a race where he can dominate from the front.

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