Today’s best bet, by Greg Wood
William Buick should still be buzzing when he returns to action in Britain on Monday afternoon having finally got off the mark at the Breeders’ Cup when Wuheida took the Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar on Saturday. He has two excellent chances on an unusually valuable and competitive Monday afternoon card at Kempton Park, and Ply (3.20) in particular looks a good bet to complete a hat-trick in the final of the London Middle Distance Series Handicap.
Roger Charlton’s gelding has recorded victories by four-and-a-half lengths and three lengths at this track on his last two starts, without ever looking fully extended. He is up another 11lb to a mark of 92, but the time of his latest win suggests that even that may not be enough to stop him today.
Best Of Days (2.50) should also benefit from Buick’s assistance in the 12-furlong Listed event earlier on the card. Some very useful performers have been attracted to run for a £25,000 first prize, including Red Verdon, Connecticut, Dylan Mouth and Red Verdon, but the three-year-old Best Of Days looks to have the most scope for improvement and does not have much, if anything, to find on the form of his close third in the Listed Godolphin Stakes at Newmarket last time out.
Boy In The Bar (3.50) should also go well on the same card, having been raised 4lb for a narrow win at Newcastle recently. He ran well to finish sixth at Doncaster off his much higher turf mark next time up, and looks big at around 7-2 to capitalise again on his return to the all-weather.
On the jumps cards, Fixed Rate (3.10) should confirm his recent improvement for a step up to two-and-a-half miles at Plumpton, while Brown Trix (1.30) should go well at Southwell.
Tips for all Monday’s races
Kempton Park
1.20 Ocala, 1.50 Beyond Recall, 2.20 Express Lady, 2.50 Best Of Days (nb), 3.20 Ply (nap), 3.50 Boy In The Bar, 4.20 Dourado
Plumpton
1.40 King Vince, 2.10 Roksana, 2.40 Dontminddboys, 3.10 Fixed Rate, 3.40 Orchestrated, 4.10 Be Daring
Southwell
1.00 Inchcolm, 1.30 Brown Trix, 2.00 Chirico Vallis, 2.30 Cliffside Park, 3.00 Hidden Oasis, 3.30 Sky Pirate 4.00 Doctor Dex
