There are two odds-on shots in the JP McManus colours on an 83-runner card at Kempton on Friday, but while they may look like a safe haven for backers amid some otherwise fiercely competitive events, both could prove to be worth opposing at the prices.
First up is Ok Corral in the novice hurdle at 1.50, who returns to the scene of his 12-length success on his hurdling debut back in May. He was absent for eight months after that, but still set off at 4-5 at Newbury last month before going down by three-quarters of a length to his stable companion Whatswrongwithyou. Race fitness may have played a part in the outcome, but it was not a contest with much depth, the time was not unduly impressive and the only horse to run since – What’s Occurring, who finished 10 lengths behind Ok Corral in third – was well beaten.
A top price of 10-11 about Ok Corral does not leave anything to chance and he has some promising types lined up against him, the most obvious of those being Alan King’s Chosen Path (1.50).
Chosen Path was a nine-length winner on his debut at Fontwell, and was then unseated his rider at the fifth just as he was starting to make progress towards the lead in a stronger race at Exeter. King had a slow start to the year but his string has hit form in the last few days, including a treble at three different meetings on Thursday, and he makes more appeal at around 4-1 than the favourite at odds-on.
Paul Nicholls’s novice chaser Modus, who goes in the following race, is around 4-5 this morning, but he too makes little appeal at a short price.
Modus was a faller, and seemingly beaten at the time, when 1-2 to beat three rivals at Exeter last time, and while he has a Grade Two win at Wincanton on his record, he has little in hand of Overtown Express (2.25) on the ratings while King’s Socks, who makes his British debut for David Pipe, is an interesting recruit to chasing from France. Overtown Express, at around 7-2, will go very close if he can produce anything close to his 10-length win at Newbury in December.
Polo The Mumm (3.00) should go well at a double-figure price in the 18-runner handicap hurdle that follows, while Tommy G (6.45) is back at six furlongs at Newcastle this evening after good runs over five and seven, and it could make all the difference at around 6-1.
Kempton Park: 1.20 The Brothers 1.50 Chosen Path (nap) 2.25 Overtown Express 3.00 Polo The Mumm 3.30 Brandon Hill 4.05 Beakstown 4.35 Balli Martine
Chelmsford City: 1.30 Nice Shot 2.00 Sonnet Rose 2.35 Naralsaif 3.10 Soul Silver 3.40 Shamrokh 4.15 Daschas 4.45 Luv U Whatever
Bangor-On-Dee: 1.40 Happy Diva 2.10 Catching On 2.45 Barrakilla 3.20 Knockrobin 3.50 Cape Hideaway 4.25 Potterman 4.55 Harambe
Newcastle: 5.45 Lord Caprio 6.15 Gronkowski 6.45 Tommy G (nb) 7.15 Lord Of The Glen 7.45 Joyful Star 8.15 Poet's Pride
