Monday’s UK racing tips come your way from the meeting at Kempton on 1 April 2024.
KEMPTON
Race 2 – EDUCATE 28/10
The Gosdens’ EDUCATE is one to watch in the Virgin Bet Fives/Ebf Novice Stakes.
He will enjoy the step up in trip from one mile to one mile and two furlongs for the first time and must be considered having shown plenty of potential when he won over one mile at Southwell in December.
Kieran Shoemark could prove to be a good booking, especially given his impressive 19% strike rate in 2024 so far.
Race 3 – LION’S PRIDE 2/1
LION’S PRIDE is taken to give weight and a beating to some smart rivals in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Magnolia Stakes at Kempton on Monday.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, he has been brought along steadily in his career to date but this is the time he can really take off.
While official figures suggest he has it all to do giving 3lb to William Haggas’ Dubai Honour, who is rated 11lb his superior, that one is on the road to recovery following a setback and he has bigger targets further afield in the coming months.
Lion’s Pride looked to have his limitations exposed when only third in two Listed races, having got off the mark at Kempton in July, but his last race promised plenty.
Back on the all-weather, he comfortably accounted for Charlie Appleby’s Measured Time, who was sent off the 4-9 favourite after three previous wins.
The fact Measured Time has since gone out to Dubai and won a Group Two before claiming the prestigious Group One Jebel Hatta and then finishing a fine fourth in the Dubai Turf, suggests Lion’s Pride is a bit better than a Listed horse.
Race 5 – AL BAREZ 7/2
Tom Clover’s AL BAREZ caught the eye last time out and can go well in the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap.
Well bred, being by Dark Angel out of the Irish 1000 Guineas winner Jet Setting, the feeling is we have yet to see Al Barez reach his full potential.
He did win three of his first four races but then had wind surgery and missed a whole year. Since then, he has not quite hit the same heights but he was not knocked about last time out at Wolverhampton.
Race 6 – VULTAR 33/10
Clive Cox’s VULTAR has won his last two at this track and while he only just about held on last time, the suggestion was he was only doing enough.
He can bring up his hat-trick in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap but he will come up against tough competition in the form of Dragon Icon.
