Sand Stormers: Lastkingofscotland to rule the roost?

Sand Stormers / Paul Smith / 08 February 2012 / 1 Comments

Hayley Turner is the jockey on board Lastkingofscotland, the Sand Stormers' nap

"He tanked through the race and his jockey was still motionless when the traffic problems began at a crucial stage, repeatedly checked in his run and unsurprisingly unable to pick up in time once the gaps appeared....."

Paul Smith looks back at the week that was on the All Weather in the latest edition of Sand Stormers.

Horses that travel strongly but don't always find much for pressure are usually to be avoided but I can make an exception for them when they are racing in the bottom grade as some of the Class 7 events take little winning.

With that in mind, I did think the run of Teen Ager at Kempton last week suggested he would be winning a weak race in the near future.

He tanked through the race and his jockey was still motionless when the traffic problems began at a crucial stage, repeatedly checked in his run and unsurprisingly unable to pick up in time once the gaps appeared.

He does take a grip and he has flattered to deceive in the past, but he is better than a Class 7 performer on his day and a similar race should be his for the taking granted a sound pace to run at.

The other addition to the list is Terry Clement's Mr Willis, who made up plenty of ground from an unpromising position at Lingfield on Saturday, turning in a career-best effort in the process.

He looked like developing into a smart All Weather performer earlier in his career and, after a fallow period, his new yard have managed to find the key to him.

The handicapper took umbrage at him finishing close up in a conditions' event on his penultimate start but he proved this mark wasn't beyond him at the weekend and he ought to be able to find a Polytrack handicap over 7f or 1m in the coming weeks, albeit the opportunities are more limited for a horse of his rating.

Looking back to last week, La Capriosa ran abysmally in a race in which everything looked in her favour. She isn't going to be persevered with and neither is Steelcut. The latter isn't doing a great deal wrong but excuses have run out for him.

I am prepared to give Global Village another chance though as he had little chance the way things panned out at Southwell on Tuesday.

His rider, clearly aware that he didn't want to be stuck on the inside rail from stall one, was easing him wider throughout but in the end, he challenged closest to the stands' rail.

He wasn't beaten far in the end and a more conventional route would surely have seen him finish closer.

The main interest this week centres around Lastkingofscotland as he drops back in trip in the 18.00 at Kempton on Wednesday.

He did very well to finish as close as he did having forced an overly strong pace at Wolverhampton last time and more patient tactics, which have been used on him for much of his career, could prove beneficial, especially from a wide draw.

It looks a run-of-the-mill event and with his current mark not insurmountable, he could be worth chancing at a price that is slightly bigger than expected.

Sand Stormers NAP
Lastkingofscotland 18.00 Kempton, Wednesday

LIST OF HORSES TO FOLLOW
Aiaam Al Wafa (likely big improver when switched to handicaps (27/10))
Adorable Choice (underrated filly who did well to last as long as she did at Newbury (21/10))
Bond Fastrac (still well handicapped on old form and good second at Nottingham (11/10))
Chambles (going the right way and latest third (12/1) better than it looks)
Flag Of Glory (shaped nicely on first run for Peter Hiatt (27/10); can do better)
Forever's Girl (best of those held up (10/11), return to 6f, Polytrack a plus)
George Guru (lightly raced and still on the up; poor draw (2/11))
Glastonberry (stuck to the inside (7/1) and still open to improvement)
Global Village (did well to make up as much ground as he did (2/1))
Greek Islands (looked worth upping in trip (12/10))
Incomparable (looks ready to strike when dropped back to 5f)
Intransigent (related to smart AW performer and promise on debut (10/10))
Kames Park (no chance the way he was ridden in slowly run race (12/10))
Lastkingofscotland (big effort from the front in a strongly run race (30/1))
Mr Willis (best of those held up at Lingfield (4/2))
Priestley's Reward (ran best race so far when second on All Weather debut (22/10))
Showboating (good effort in slowly run race (14/1))
Teen Ager (repeatedly hampered at Kempton (1/2))
Wrapped Up (no chance from a wide draw last time (18/11); still unexposed)

Comments (1)

1. Barry | 08 February 2012

   What’s the point in writing that much, if you have nothing to say on the topic? I would better consult hahaped