Zamalight is worth chancing each-way in division two of an ‘aged’ Maiden Stakes over a mile of Kempton polytrack tonight; each-way ‘thieves’ will be out in force because Bowerman has a solid look in the first leg.
Non-runners are the bane of EWD’s and despite setting up a Horserace Bettors Forum within the last two years there is no discipline whatsoever on so many ‘below the belt’ tactics of bookmakers.
The HBF is a complete waste of money, it achieves nothing and should be scrapped, forthwith.
We just have to soldier on and await our chances, both aforementioned races have nine declarations and, hopefully, three places will be at issue.
Coincidentally Zamalight and Bowerman raced once as two-year-olds and come from respected yards which employ capable, respected jockeys.
Champion jockey Jim Crowley has been booked for Zamalight by Amanda Perrett and wont be favourite; Godolphin-owned Archer’s Arrow, second in all three efforts to date, trained by all-conquering Saeed bin Suroor is almost certain to be head of a strong market.
On actual time-figures Zamalight is his equal, along with totally exposed Koeman.
We’ll be disappointed if Zamlight doesn’t make the frame and Roger Varian-trained Bowerman has s similar profile; mount of Andrea Atzeni!
An eight-race programme concludes with consistent Fabulous Flyer attempting to end a vexing sequence of placed efforts in a twelve-runner ‘aged’ handicap over six furlongs.
Fabulous Flyer comes out ‘best-in’ and ‘crack’ apprentice David Parkes claims 5lbs allowance.
Cue Card faces six in the Betway Bowl
Last year’s winner Cue Card heads a field of seven declared for the Betway Bowl at Aintree tomorrow.
The Colin Tizzard-trained 11-year-old bids for a 10th Grade One win on the back of a fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He came down at the third-last, just as he had done 12 months previously.
He bounced back that time to beat Don Poli by nine lengths at Liverpool and will try to do the same again.
His rivals include the Paul Nicholls-trained Silviniaco Conti, who will attempt to land this prize for a third time after coming out on top in 2014 and 2015.
Other Gold Cup also rans seeking redemption are Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Bristol De Mai (seventh), Alan King’s Smad Place (eighth) and Tea For Two, who unseated Lizzie Kelly at the second fence.
Gordon Elliott’s Empire Of Dirt is the sole Irish challenger while Aso, from the Venetia Williams stable, completes the septet.
The three withdrawals at the 48-hour final declaration stage were Otago Trail, Outlander and Sub Lieutenant.
Mark Walsh to return at Fairyhouse
Mark Walsh hopes to back in the saddle in time for the Irish Grand National meeting at Fairyhouse over Easter after not quite being ready to return to action at Aintree this week.
Retained jockey to leading Irish owner JP McManus, Walsh fractured his left leg in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival last month when deputising for the injured Barry Geraghty.
Walsh has seen consultant orthopaedic surgeon Paddy Kenny and while the leg is making good progress it has not quite fully healed.
“Mark has to see Mr Kenny again next Tuesday for a review. He won’t be back for Aintree, but he should be OK for Fairyhouse,” said Irish Turf Club senior medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick.
“He’s almost there, but not fully yet. He won’t be back this week but hopefully he will be next week.”
Kempton • 3.15 Bowerman (e.w) • 3.45 Zamalight (e.w) •
6.15 Fabulous Flyer (e.w)