Sport

Sandro Botticelli can brush his rivals aside at Kempton

Peter Davies
Peter Davies Peter Davies

Sandro Botticelli may not be the most original choice in the 32Red Conditions Stakes at Kempton, but sometimes it does not pay to look beyond the obvious.

The five-year-old warmed up for this event with a fair effort at Wolverhampton last month, finishing a seven-and-a-quarter-length fourth to resurgent Northumberland Plate winner Antiquarium.

While beaten a fair distance, Sandro Botticelli was conceding 3lb to each of the first three home and given it was his first outing in two months, it would be fair to expect the son of Galileo to come on a bit for the run.

One must also factor in the steady pace that day, which really would not have been ideal for this strong stayer on what was just his second all-weather outing.

Taking all that into account, Sandro Botticelli becomes an easy choice for this fast-track qualifier for finals day on Good Friday, particularly as he is also favoured by the conditions of the race.

Steelriver is not as a simple a choice in the 32Red.com Handicap as he has not won since October 2014, but he has been batting away admirably in the interim and his time must surely be approaching.

Placed on his last two outings, Steelriver remains on a workable mark and would not have to be anything special to prevail in this six-furlong heat.

Remember The Man has been knocking on the door since switching to Britain from France and Lingfield’s Betway Best Odds Guaranteed Plus Handicap looks a gilt-edged opportunity to finally get his head in front.

Beaten nine-and-a-half lengths on his debut for Ralph Beckett at the beginning of January, he stepped up on that when dropped back in trip to be beaten just a neck.

He again got caught for toe when it mattered, so another crack a lengthier distance is a logical option.

Ericht can spearhead a Nicky Henderson double at Doncaster.

The Seven Barrows trainer loves to send a horse or two along to Town Moor to benefit from the generally decent ground, and Ericht is one who can thrive for that in the BetBright Best For Festival Betting Veterans’ Handicap Chase.

The 11-year-old appeared to be having a very off day when well beaten in fourth at Kempton last month, but the winner is a smart enough individual having gone on to beat Saphir Du Rheu, who subsequently scored himself at Kelso last week.

Ericht was tailed off before three out at the Sunbury track which was particularly disappointing as he had previously turned in excellent efforts at Cheltenham and Newbury.

That run was probably too bad to be true, but the move to this sort of race is a big plus.

Henderson should also be on the mark with Soldier In Action in the Watch Live Racing On BetBright.com Juvenile Hurdle.

Rated 105 on the level, he was a bit of a letdown on his hurdling bow, weakening into fifth in a Listed event at Musselburgh at the start of the month.

Soldier In Action jumped well enough but had nothing left to give when push came to shove in what was his first outing in three months. Better is anticipated.

Wings Attract was impeded by a loose horse when running over fences here last time out and merits close inspection switched back to the smaller obstacles in the BetBrightBOOST Handicap Hurdle.

Olly Williams’ charge was clobbered close home but deserved plenty of credit for her four-length defeat and should be able to make good use of her lower hurdles mark.

One More Hero is the pick in the Ludlow Point To Point 1st April Maiden Hurdle at the Shropshire venue.

The six-year-old was a £100,000 purchase last May after winning one of his two point to point starts, with a couple of subsequent winners under Rules finishing behind him.

Paul Nicholls has taken a patient approach with the Milan gelding and this looks like a fine stepping stone to better things in time.

Punchestown hosts a decent card and Apple’s Jade can set the seal on her Cheltenham prep with victory in the Quevega Mares Hurdle.

Wide-margin wins at Aintree and Punchestown last season showed just what she is capable of and while this term looked as though it could be disappointing after two initial defeats, her verdict over Vroum Vroum Mag in the Hatton’s Grace shows Apple’s Jade is still the one they all have to beat in the distaff division.

Nap: Sandro Botticelli

(7.45: Kempton)

Double: Steelriver

(7.15: Kempton)

Treble: Remember The Man

(2.55: Lingfield)

Yankee: Ericht

(3.45: Doncaster)