Pauling's Dawn to improve with cheekpieces
14:45 Ludlow - Back Towards The Dawn @ 8.88/1
With nine runners the Place market will very much come into play for the 14:45 at Ludlow and I am hoping Ben Pauling can turn the corner with a bit of luck.
Pauling has had plenty of seconds since November 9th (seven to be precise), and Towards The Dawn can hopefully snap that run. He's a decent price at 8.88/1.
His return for the season came at Ascot last time in race with a bit more depth than today's. He was given a fair bit to do by Luca Morgan when anchored out the back, which was understandable to boost his confidence as his jumping hasn't been fluent in a very light career to date. Indeed, he fell late on at Doncaster last term.
It was a pleasing comeback nonetheless over the 2m4f trip that looked inadequate, so the extra couple of furlongs could suit him today.
With a drop in class and the first time cheekpieces, I am looking for a sharper performance from the horse today from a mark that looks winnable. Whilst Morgan gets to claim 6lb.
Domino can knock over Ratface granted new stamina test
15:10 Kempton - Back Domino Effect 5.04/1
Emma Lavelle's Domino Effect looks one of the most interesting runners for Monday's action at Kempton and the extended 3m is sure to see the horse in a good light for his handicap debut.
Given a mark of 120 plus the 3lb claim of Ben Jones, the selection should build on a solid comeback run when last seen at the track over 2m5f. Whilst he looked in need of the appearance finishing third last month, I liked the way he responded to finish strongly when his rider asked for a bit more. He was bumped along just before the turn and was readily outpaced, but he put plenty of daylight between himself and the fourth to suggest he'll improve for a further distance.
The ground was fairly quick in that race, and the fact this will be his third appearance on the trot at Kempton suggests connections feel he could be a good ground horse by sticking here. He also ran well in a novice last February at a big price - again catching the eye over a shorter than ideal trip.
The obvious rival is the gloriously-named Ratfacemcdougall, and he's found his form again with a strong staying performance at Musselburgh, but Domino Effect cost 95,000 and is unexposed. Whilst his trainer Lavelle had a pair of winners on Saturday at Wincanton and Ascot which bodes well for the yard form.
Incidentally, there's another Ratface McDougall, who was a bit of a legend at the Canadian track Woodbine and both were born in May 2013.