In fact I was always a little bit huffy about Kempton. I thought it was a bit too sharp to be a true test and thinking that lying as it does well within the M25 it is much more a metropolitan track than Sandown and Epsom and as such a bit too urban and cockney for my liking. So coming here after a gap of many years was a jolt to my sensibility. In fact this is a very well run, set out and in fact I would rather come here for a twilight meeting on the poly than get fleeced at the roller-coaster on the downs.
So what do you get from a visit. First of all there at stacks of signs for Kempton Park, it is motorway to the door M3 off the M25, there is Sunbury railway station adjacent giving a regular route from Waterloo. Could not be any more easier to get to. Tonight I merely had to drive through the main entrance and there was a spacious asphalt surfaced car park right smack bang next to the entrance. No torturous walking to be had to get in, no money need change hands to get this spot on pitch. The cost to get in tonight was £15 but that pretty well got me everywhere, I could not find any specific area out of bounds. There may have been some but I couldn’t find it. So for the money and eight races it was pretty good value. This sort of value for money package must scare the daylights out of greyhound racing. Just a few miles south-east of here sits Wimbledon, home to British dog racings jewel in its crown The Derby. They have been chiselled down bit by bit to the point where you have to ask is it viable as an industry or is it just going to be a game for the flappers in the end. The way tonight at Kempton was compiled shows that Greyhounds are knackered for as long as horse owners are willing to compete for a grand. By the look of the card featuring many double figure entries, there are plenty of competitors to feed the beast.
The facilities are first rate, the new stand is vast, modern and good design. The interior is very modern and the furniture is good quality heavy wood. In the eating and betting areas there was stacks of space and the general atmosphere was very relaxed. One problem with the all weather here is the distance of the action from the stands. It is a minor quibble but I like the races to be close to where you are watching from so you can get a feel for the speed. The selection of food was good in the main grandstand and there was plenty of variety on offer. The tea was very hot which was good, a bit on the steep side at £1.80 but bit downside was the abomination that is UHT milk. But at least there wasn’t an insect in the brew a la Salisbury.
The entry to the course is through some decent sturdy gates but the turnstile area is pretty nondescript but nowhere near austere so passable. There were however a number of interesting aspects of the features from an aesthetic perspective that I likes. By the entry point there is a model of a horse showing some anatomic information, very high brow, there is a very nice hedge cut and pruned to depict a racehorse and I like the fact that some of the original grandstand brickwork design has been weaved into the brand new modern structure. I think it works fine and at least there has been a bit of thought in the reconstruction to give a nod towards the past.
Swanky new stand at kempton
Kempton has had many stars perform here in the past but surely none more memorable than the grey horse himself Dessie. He was a true phenomenon winning King Geoges, Whitbreads and the Gold Cup. He was a strange old thing really who was far better going right than left. Why is this? I have asked a number of trainers and they cannot explain it other than there must be a mental thing. It’s not as if they lead with a different leg. Plus just because the horse has a tendency to jump to the right doesn’t mean they will prefer to race clockwise. I was lucky in that I saw Desert Orchid’s first win which was in a novice hurdle at Ascot. In those days you thought that such a strong galloping front runner would never stay further than the minimum trip. He was quick enough to win a Kingswood at Wincanton so he was given a shot in the champion but ran into the great mare Dawn Run. He led for a way but was first of all outgunned by Buck House. That was some champion as also Very Promising ran into a place. From there on we saw him scale heights in the chasing game and managed to even win over the 3m5f of the Whitbread. However it is the King George and Kempton at which he is best remembered and a statue in his memory overlooks the paddock. It is very different from the normal as is white depicting the colour he reached in maturity and I think it is a fine sculpture to cement his position in the history of racing in general and the course in particular.
Statue of the great Dessie, questionable if being white made sense and why the promotional blanket, didn't notice Brigadier General sporting a Fly Emerites snazy cravat
The paddock and preparade ring are linked by a long walkway which also serves as the entry to the course itself. This gives plenty of opportunity for racegoers to get a close look at the horses. I found it a bit difficult to get a feel for the horses condition as twighlight and then dusk kicked in. The paddock has a neat trimmed hedge which is useful but no trees. This is a pity as a fine willow sits in the pre parade ring which would have given the Dobbies destination a bit of a dilemma but as not in the paddock doesn’t count. However the water feature on the track is a very grand fountain spewing volumes of water ten or so feet into the air to provide a multi directional plume. It looked effective. So the decision is does this overtake the excellent pond at Folkestone? Difficult choice to ponder upon.
Archetecture looks nice mixing old and new
In other areas considered the racecard at £2.50 was middle order stuff, general communication to customers was satisfactory without being significantly innovative. The course was pretty well free access all areas. However there was no chance of a freemans here given the way the course is configured.
Good water feature
The verdict on Kempton is that it is a well organised modern track offering plenty of value. There was a bit of a sterile atmosphere tonight as I am not sure all weather really evokes the same sort of passion as the turf particularly as the action is a little distanced from the audience due to the full width of the turf track separating participants from spectators. It does not surpass Salisbury as my favourite southern track to date but made a fair fist of competing.
The Racing
The first race was the feature race of a card which was supported by two maiden stakes, a three year old class 5 handicap and four class 6 handicaps. This class 4 handicap over one and a quarter miles was also set to start at twenty to six. This meant that anyone more than twenty minutes away had no chance after doing their 0900 to 1700 stint of getting here on time to see the best race of the evening. You might think that is an inducement to attend but I’ll tell you what I would have thought poke it they’ve got floodlights so what’s the problem with a six o’clock start. It probably transpires that this is the necessary timing to stop the drift from the bookies at the end of the afternoon fare. Anyway the race was won in confident style by the Richard Hills ridden Mtujare by a length which flattered the opposition. Clearly better suited to this longer trip and held up a touch. As a three year old you would think he may not as yet finished improvement. Came from what many think is an unfavoured wide draw however tonight’s racing suggests that either kicking on quick out the boxes or pulled widish for run in the final quarter mile is good tactics here and a high number is sometimes an advantage. I am not sure that there is a major positive about the winner but looked to have a bit in hand on the assessor off this 79 mark. Second home was the Godolphin runner Tahaamah who was held up made good progress but rolled about a bit suggesting either didn’t stay, is still a bit green or is just an awkward. Previous runs suggest that he acts in the mud, stays a mile and a half and has run well on tricky courses like Chester and Goodwood. Difficult to draw many conclusions from this but I was a little disappointed with his run today and not sure why. As such I have him as a negative. Michael Stoute’s Complextion ran well but probably produced a bit too late to catch the winner only going down a short head for runner’s up position. Ran poorly last time at Newmarket and appears to be more of a miler. Of the rest Tindaro the French bred top wweight makes most interest. He has winning form in france, is bred for further than this 10f trip, was staying on having been tapped for early toe (not good news around here) and looked in need of run. Trained by a NH yard and has the conformation to suit that arena. Best suited by some cut and I can see him being an interesting prospect if put over the stick. I have him as positive particularly if this is the case.
Mutajare wins in good style
The first division of the two year old maiden fillies stakes over the seven was contested by a field of mainly backward sorts out for some experience. However it was run much faster than the second division with the winner Whimsical initiating a quickfire hat-trick for the Hannon / Hughes alliance. It was an impressive performance as once produced she accelerated in good style and quickly but the race home winning by over two lengths. She put her experience of three runs in better class to good use and it will be interesting how the handicapped views her mark of 83. The main positive though was the $400,000 purchase for Hamdam Al Maktoum Yanabeeaa. She is a big framed filly and looked a bit burley for her racecourse debut. Her pedigree suggests middle distances next season and she ran very well for her debut and looks the sort to do very well in reasonable company next season. Not knocked about at all and is a positive going forward. Of the remainder the third home No Compromise looked alert and well on her debut and may be better over six this season but should stay a mile with time. Favourite at 11/4 was Amber Silk who continues to be a bit edgy and probably needs to learn to settle. Well bred and has good speed but may be best left till next season to calm down a bit. The Authorised filly Aiaam Al Wafa was very green and ran to suit which appears to be a trend for the colt’s produce to date.
Almost twilight and you need expert vision before the floodlights kicked in top work out who's who
The second division was a bit more of a bunch finish won by 9/4 favourite Cresta Star. She has plenty of experience and her running style suggests she needs a mile already. Led throughout and may just have had a bit in hand. Fine Painting ran will promise to finish runner up having been held up and produced from approaching the quarter mile stick. Suits this seven, built on debut and looks type to progress a bit more. The big positive in this race was the Sir Mark Prescott trained Yours Ever who finished third on her debut. Looked a nice sort in the paddock beforehand but raced a little green to start with missing the kick and taking a little while to get into the race. Came through on the wide to hold every chance until one paced inside the distance. Bred to stay a mile and a half, is closely related to Shirley Heights and I am sure she will do well next season. One for the notebook. Of the others the experienced Chatterati from the Godolphin stable finished fourth staying on having been outpaced early and holding little chance, this was her third run she was on her toes beforehand and I would have expected a bolder showing if she has any significant potential. Of the strugglers tonight I would keep a little eye on the very cheap sales purchase Lily Potts. She looked very weak and immature to my eye. Took a while to work out what was going on but stayed on well. She is not badly bred at all including being the half sister to pitmans derby winner Tomnator (who was also listed class). She has ability but I would not see her out until three if she was mine and I think with time 1m4 plus will be right up her street. She could very well pop up at good odds next season. However I cannot have her as a positive right now as needs time to mature.
Yours ever returns after hjighly promising run
The six furlong three year old class 5 handicap was won by Numeral to complete the Hannon triumpherate. The gelding won by a nose in a driving finish. Nicely bred, cost a lot of money and clearly better over this six than the nine furlongs recently tried over. Difficult to see much improvement but appears a genuine sort. Second home was bottom weight Libys Dream who ran on strongly and looked the winner for Jimmy Quinn only to be denied by the minimum distance. She broke her duck in a meeting over CD a fortnight ago. Clearly suits Kempton and the poly but 63 is likely to be increased and as such will struggle to win off this mark any time soon. Third was the fancied Crew Cut who held every chance at the distance but failed to stay on and I think the gelding is better over five at the moment. Favourite and booked for Kieren Fallon whose plane broke down (don’t you hate it when that happens, must give him the number of my aeromechanic he’s a whizz with the spanners) was Blink of an Eye who races as if needs a sprint trip and yet a drop from seven to six resulted in running out of steam. He is very nicely bred but having already been cut suggests that there may be some temperament problems here. On the basis that this was a very poor run in comparison to his win last time out I think he is getting his own ideas about the game and likely to be a bit unreliable. As such I have him as a negative going forward.
A poor nursery over a mile at class 6 was won in reasonable style by Anginola who was one of two who looked well before hand in amongst a lot of backward immature sorts. She won under a patient well timed ride from George Baker by two lengths. The second home was the hot 13/8 favourite Spunky ridden by Keiren Fallon who evidently found a bus. The horse was well held by the winner and ran about as well as could be expected and there is limited promise from this run off the current OR 60. Not much else to report for this one really.
We continued the class 6 trend this time a six furlong handicap. It was won in a driving finish by the 6/4 favourite and course specialist Swansea Jack complete with favoured visor and tongue strap. Has a good record her winning three of four and the only defeat being by a length over a mile. Genuine and always worth watching around here. In the circumstances the runner up by a head Golden Compass also comes out of this race with credit as an improving three year old in this class. Has had a great yaer coming on a stone and clearly not stopped improvement. Has been ultra consistent best over six furlongs and I still think there are more wins even off this ‘lofty’ 60 perch and as such rates a positive. Nothing else stood out.
The penultimate event was a lowly claimer. It was the initiator of a late Fallon doubt. Hard ridden after dwelling a bit Raucous Behaviour prevailed by a nose. Big outsider was First Avenue ran well but if best suited by tight tracks over the hurdles and after appearing to have fallen out with the game his run today for a new yard suggests better things to come so watch for a run soon over the sticks where I think he could turn up at fair odds. Not so much a positive as one to consider. Was tried at stiffer tracks toward end of last season’s jumps but only win was at Plumpton in pieces. His 108 OR over hurdles is very attractive if returning to the good form he had when running close in Kempton and Huntingdon class 3 handicaps in the 09/10 season. The favourite was Porgy who looks a bit of a dodgepot with a iffy head carriage finished third but has a good winning strike-rate.
We finished with a class 6 handicap over 1m3 where a bunch finish resulted in three lengths covering the first six home. Fifty Cents (only two wins in his life and first win since 2007 and now 30 pound lower rated than when he entered handicapping tells its own story) and Fallon won it as a joint favourite with third home Reggie Perin (continues to knock on the door and is a relatively progressive three year old). Alhaque was second and is still after 14 efforts awaiting breaking his flat maiden duck. Azurinta was friendless in the market starting price of 12/1 despite a promising handicap debut and being well backed as favourite that day. She encountered a lot of traffic tonight but to my eye looked to bottle it and I wouldn’t back her with a nine bob note.
Notebook
Tahaamah (n)
Tindaro (p)
2 0 3
Promising runs over hurdles as hoped for and can win before too long and remains a positive
Yannabeeaa (p)
Your Ever (p)
3
Good third at nice each way of 12/1 and looks capable of winning maide soon
Blink of an Eye (n)
0
Still not a winning proposition yet
Golden Compass (p)
Upped 4lbs and carrying 9-10 in a class 6 meant he is mot a betting opportunity. Needs to drop to 60 and is shelved