Magical Dias represents a solid betting proposition in the nine-runner Fillies’ Novice Stakes over a mile of tapeta during the obligatory Kempton ‘Wednesday-nighter’ which, slowly but surely, is building momentum under dramatic floodlighting; everything is good about the Kew right-handed circuit, especially restaurant facilities which compliment the on-course action.
Our headline selection certainly looks tasty; this filly is trained by in-form Richard Hannon, mount of stable jockey Sean Levey and advantaged with the 5lbs maiden, and a weight-for-age allowance; a ‘Magical’ platform for serious punters and ‘City-ites’ who will target my nap after leaving their desks and financial battlefields for another.
Thrice-raced Magical Dias is a ‘serious’ on my time-handicap based on all efforts and will represent a major disappointment if unable to make the winners’ enclosure.
Pointless mentioning ‘form’ rivals, they need to improve considerably but I’ll monitor newcomer Luckyboylovelywife from Marco Botti’s Newmarket yard which has booked champion apprentice Marco Ghiani, our speculative tip for the 2022 Jockeys Championship. Wonder if Qatar Racing will snap him up to replace ‘retired’ Oisin Murphy!
Following ‘profile’ jockeys and consistent successful trainers is the cornerstone of making racing pay and 2022 promises so much for this racing-mad ‘workaholic!’
Unfortunately the other seven races are handicaps, a reason to switch focus on jumping fixtures at Leicester and Exeter where three ‘maiden hurdles’ justified close scrutiny; they are, after all, what most ‘professionals’ prefer and my ‘gang’ certainly did enjoy specialising when determining outcomes with process of elimination policy.
What beats consistent Credo in division two of the Mares’ Hurdle over two miles will surely win; doubtless Aidan Coleman has design on front-running against inferior rivals aboard the seven-year-old by Fame And Glory, a point winner and twice successful in bumpers before finishing in the minor placings three times over hurdles, achieving useful TH marks.
An hour later Bally Black, an Irish point winner, will hopefully supplement gains in the Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles on the back of a tremendous first-up run over a similar distance around Taunton five weeks ago when a 28/1 second to Paul Nicholls-trained Brave Kingdon (8/13!) with the rest eighteen lengths and upwards in arrears.
We’ve got really good chances today.
Selections, Exeter, 3.10 Credo; 4.10 Bally Black (e.w); Kempton, 6.00 Magical Dias (nap).
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019