Horse Racing: Fat chance could be a winner at Kempton

Published on 19/01/2013 12:46

WITH the cold weather accounting for the turf action, Kempton keep the all-weather flag flying and Kung Hei Fat Choy is taken to send his supporters home happy.

The four-year-old lines up in the Follow Us On Twitter @BetVictorRacing Conditions Stakes after winning over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton on his first start of 2013.

A winner in December, too, James Given’s charge seems to be progressing at a rate of knots in the winter discipline, with his recent Dunstall Park verdict particularly noteworthy.

Putting a previous disappointment behind him, he got first run on all his rivals and fended off subsequent winner Atlantis Crossing by a length and a half. Despite being raised 4lb for that win, he still has a bit to find with his rivals here but appeals as an unexposed runner.

Purple ‘N Gold has been in excellent heart on the all-weather lately and is expected to go well again in the BetVictor Exclusive Antepost Offer Cheltenham 2013 Handicap.

David Pipe claimed the four-year-old after he won at Kempton in November and he was third at the Sunbury venue last month. He stepped up on that to win at this track nearly two weeks ago, seeing off Presburg by just over a length in arguably his best effort to date. Raised 5lb for that win, Purple ‘N Gold will obviously have to improve again but as he appears to be a slightly quirky character, he might still have a bit left in the locker.

Steelcut is the choice in the Book Your Racing Plus Chase Tickets Now Handicap as he has dropped another 1lb in the ratings. A winner off 74 in his pomp, he is now 11lb below that mark after failing to poke his head in front since last June.

He triumphed that day off a perch of 68 so is now back on an eminently winnable mark and is certainly more than 
capable, particularly as a tardy start hardly helped when third last time.

Liberty Love was also a bit unlucky last time but can make amends in the second division of the BetVictor Non Runner Free Bet at Cheltenham Handicap. A slow start meant the eight-year-old had to come through the field at Wolverhampton and had he enjoyed a clear run, he would no doubt have been closer to the length-and-a-quarter winner.