Rio Ronaldo (6.15 Windsor) has form figures at this track of 51119, the latest one being last August when he was the favourite but started extremely slowly.
This sprinter’s reappearance at Leicester two-and-a-half weeks ago was over 7f, a distance he had never encountered before and, a 12-1 shot then, he never threatened. Back at his old haunt and partnered by Jamie Spencer – who has won on him before – a trademark late flourish looks likely now he has dropped below his last winning handicap mark.
Oxfordshire trainer Peter Hiatt sends Red Tea (2.30 Pontefract) north and has secured a decent draw to go with the booking of Paul Hanagan. The filly will be sharper for her first run of the season (unplaced at Wolverhampton three weeks ago).
Nigel Twiston-Davies’s staying chasers were in sparkling form in the Scottish National on Saturday – Cogry and Benbens finishing second and third, at 18-1 and 50-1 respectively. The stable’s Big Casino (3.55 Warwick) is today the senior member of the four-runner field in a 3m 5f contest, and the 6-1 outsider at morning prices.
The 11-year-old is 4lb below the mark of his last win, over an extended 2m 6f on good ground at Stratford in October. The form since then certainly does not make encouraging reading, but his three rivals hardly look good things and Big Casino is worth chancing at the odds to show rejuvenation for Sam Twiston-Davies.
Monday’s tips
Kempton: 2.10 Corinthia Knight, 2.40 Robin’s Purse, 3.15 Metronomic,
3.45 Luduamf, 4.20 Thafeera, 4.50 Captain Peacock, 5.20 Next Trains Gone, 5.50 Halling’s Wish
Lingfield: 5.05 Rattle On, 5.35 Napping, 6.05 Hot Stuff, 6.35 Shargiah, 7.05 La Vie En Rose, 7.45 Star Of Lombardy
Pontefract: 2.00 Queen’s Sargent, 2.30 Red Tea, 3.05 Edward Lewis, 3.35 Riptide, 4.10 Star Catch, 4.40 Henley, 5.10 Sakurajima, 5.40 Miss Bates
Warwick: 1.50 Abbotswood, 2.20 Atlantic Storm, 2.50 Another Frontier, 3.25 Contre Tous, 3.55 Big Casino (nap), 4.30 Equus Amadeus, 5.00 Saturdaynightfever, 5.30 Bear’s Affair
Windsor: 4.45 Daddies Girl, 5.15 Stepper Point, 5.45 Next Challenge, 6.15 Rio Ronaldo (nb), 6.45 Mr Khalid, 7.15 Desert Cross, 7.45 Quite A Story
