Arnarson
It is a beautiful morning here in HQ and the sun has been shining brightly. There are two Group 2 races over in Meydan to brighten up the afternoon and the Hampton Court Stakes winner of 2017 Benbatl will take all the beating in the first of them over 9f, he is a recent course and distance winner and his rivals need to step up on what they have shown so far to beat him. The Al Fahidi Fort over 7f looks a little more open with D’bai heading the betting after winning well over course and distance last time. The 2,000 Guineas fifth Dream Castle is an interesting rival dropped back to 7f and if he settles better he should give the favourite something to think about.
We have two runners today at Kempton. Global Wonder broke slowly last time and then couldn’t get a clear run when one was needed. He runs in a competitive 1m handicap at 5:55. A lot of his rivals have solid form for the level and due to a well timed entry Barnay is four pounds well in and two pounds better off than when second last week. It was only an ordinary affair but he is the horse to beat on the form book given he runs off of 64 this evening. Freebe Rocks has put in two solid runs however and could dictate affairs from the one draw, if he is allowed his own way from the front with Kirby on he will be hard to beat. Bill Cody has ability but the trip is a question mark for him whilst Summer Thunder travelled like the winner of penultimate start before disappointing last time. Lady Jayne and Hollywood Dream don’t stand out as obvious winners. This is a slightly more competitive race than we would have liked but given lack of opportunities we felt we had to take our chance. He is on a fair mark but a slow pace that turns into a sprint would not be ideal and there is a possibility that could happen. If everything falls into place then our horse has claims.
Arnarson was a little unlucky last time under a penalty but he now has to run over his new mark of 78. The 8:00 7f handicap is an open affair and none of his rivals hold secrets from the handicapper. There is a suspicion our horse is better on the tapeta but there are a lack of races for him and he should run well this evening as he does handle the polytrack surface. Bobby Wheeler is likely to get the lead and if he is not too keen early he is the rival we would fear most given he showed more last time and his mark has tumbled recently. His rider is yet to have a winner but she got on quite well with him last time. Fiftyshadesofgrey is another that has fallen to an attractive mark but he needs to break better and Mr Bossy Boots is in the same camp. Helfire is a consistent sort that is returning from a break and is another who will appreciate a good gallop. Gentlemen is yet another horse that is on a good mark if everything clicks and Time To Reason makes his debut for Charlie Wallis off a mark that is nearly a stone below his peak.
It is not a race that a betting man should be interested in given there are so many question marks surrounding it but our horse is in good form and I am hopeful he will run his race, we just have to hope that a potentially well handicapped rival doesn’t bounce back to form.