Loup de Maulde looks to be on a very attractive mark in his bid to to win a seventh race for Robbie Llewellyn's Wiltshire stable in the staying handicap chase at Wincanton.
His four wins in handicap hurdles in the 2022/23 season got Llewellyn's career as a full licence-holder off to an excellent start, and he went on to win his first two starts over fences the following season at Huntingdon and Taunton, showing fairly useful form. While he had to miss the whole of last season, Loup de Maulde's two outings this term suggest he retains plenty of ability and, having dropped in the weights, he's now potentially well treated, coming out 4 lb clear in the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings.
After showing some encouragement over hurdles in a big field at Ascot on his return in February, Loup de Maulde ran much better than the distance beaten suggests back over fences at Warwick last time when an ill-timed mistake four out resulted in his finishing a remote fourth behind the progressive House of Habsburg, but back over this shorter trip, he's weighted to go close.
Back Loup de Maulde in the 15:20 Wincanton
Rossa Ryan fired in 15 winners during March, including when successful at the opening turf meeting at Doncaster last weekend just a day after finishing second on outsider West Wind Blows in the Dubai Sheema Classic. Three of Ryan's winners in March came for Newmarket trainer John Butler who is in good form himself, he too having a winner at Doncaster, and the partnership have good chances of teaming up successfully again at Kempton where they had a double a few weeks ago.
Ryan partners Butler's Havana Touch for the first time in the mile handicap which earns his mount the 'Jockey Uplift' flag. A course winner over seven furlongs last year, Havana Touch lost his form over the winter but returned to form from out of the blue at Wolverhampton last time.
Improving on his two previous runs this year, Havana Touch kept on to go down by half a length to favourite Galaxy Wonder. Just 2 lb higher now than for his last win and topping the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, he can go one better this time.
Back Havana Touch in the 18:00 Kempton
James Fanshawe is another trainer who has been in good form in recent weeks, having the 'Hot Trainer' flag, with Pina Sonata giving the stable a listed win in the Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes at Kempton last Saturday under Danny Muscutt. The same pairing has good prospects of another win at the track with Lion of Mali in the seven-furlong handicap for three-year-olds.
Gelded after four runs at two, Lion of Mali still looked a shade green but showed improved form when getting off the mark in a handicap at Wolverhampton on his reappearance. Getting up late for a neck win in a bunched finish, Lion of Mali is one of several winners to come out of that race as he followed up in a higher-grade handicap over this evening's course and distance.
Again, Lion of Mali won with little to spare but there was a lot to like about his head win over French Affair, showing a good attitude as he stayed on to lead over a furlong out. Going the right way and heading the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings off bottom weight, Lion of Mali can complete his hat-trick.
Back Lion of Mali in the 19:00 Kempton