Sectional Debrief: Kempton, Tuesday July 17

One of the advantages of taking sectionals on all-weather is that the speed of the surface varies less than it does on turf. But that is not to say that the speed of the surface on all-weather varies not at all. Last night's meeting at Kempton took place on just about the slowest surface there this year, as evidenced by both overall and sectional times, but it still probably qualifies as "standard" for those who prefer such categorisation. 

There was not a lot to get excited about in the early races, though About Turn posted sectionals which support the impression that he will prove useful (and may well have to be that and more besides for the tasks ahead). 

The principals in the Breden race came back a bit quicker than par and the race is more interesting than the majority of older-horse maidens at this time of the year. Fourth-placed Alegra did just about best of all behind the winner, running roughly 36.4s from the sectional, but will hardly have gone unmissed. 

Less obvious is some of the "hidden" form in the handicap won by Progenitor. The leaders went too fast, and the winner came from roughly 10 lengths back at the sectional to get up close home. The bare form may flatter Progenitor somewhat and undersell third-placed Mandy The Nag and fifth-placed Storming. Mandy The Nag would be put up as a "to follow" horse, but, unfortunately, she will have to run off 6 lb higher on all-weather in future as a result of her recent Southwell claiming win. She is worth keeping an eye on, nonetheless. 

The race won by Pomology produced the fastest relative finish - as reflected in the finishing speed %s - with the winner flashing home in about 35.4s, having had only two behind her at the sectional. She deserves to be rated something like 5 lb better than the bare result and might well have made the "to follow" list but for the fact that after two wins out of two she may start flying quite a bit higher after this. 

There are a few things to take out of the concluding seven-furlong handicap, however; not least that the overall time was a pretty good one for the grade. That said, a sound - rather than overly-strong - pace does not justify dropping a horse out several lengths off it. The fourth-placed to sixth-placed horses (Glastonberry, Fiducia and Two In The Pink) were a bit further back than ideal. 

Fiducia, on whom Tom Queally possibly thought the race was setting up in similar fashion to his successful ride on Progenitor earlier (it was not), had been a sectional "to follow" horse going into this race and remains one after it, having met some interference for good measure. She has what it takes to be there or thereabouts in an ordinary handicap at seven furlongs or a mile. Granted a suitable ride for the pace which prevails, of course.