Top Tipster Daryl Carter gives four selections across three races on Bank Holiday Monday, including a strong 2pt fancy at Windsor.
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Posted: 8.52pm April 30th (Odds correct at time posted)
3.40 Kempton – DORKING LAD (1pt E/W – 25/1 generally) + FORGOT TO ASK (0.5pt E/W – 16/1 Bet365, 14/1 generally)
This race has an open feel and many cross-over form lines, so it may be worth taking a chance on two. The first is DORKING LAD at generous odds. He was a no-show in the Topham Chase at Aintree on his latest start; however, that race lends itself to national fence specialists, and it’s easily forgiven. He was better than the bare result for us at Ascot on his penultimate start, but he had little chance, having been held up in a steadily run affair. Today is a welcome return to Kempton, for which his form figures read UR, 1, 3, and 2. The return to a right-handed track should also boost his backers’ confidence with career form figures over fences of 133112, and he is unexposed at today’s three-mile distance (he has lacked pace over shorter trips). The cheek-pieces go back on for the first time over conventional fences since this time last year, and they could easily bring back the spark.
FORGOT TO ASK coming here fresh is obviously by design, given his record after 100 days off the track or more reads 2121373F3912, and if we just look at those after 100 days or more off when returning in the spring – like today, they read 11331. His latest run at Ludlow, when pulled up, is easily forgiven – he did the same the previous year in December, and catching him during the spring or summer has yielded all of his victories. The booking of Charlie Deutch catches the eye given this is his only ride of the day, and in a wide-open race he looks good each-way value.
3.54 Windsor – LEQUINTO (2pt win – 6/1 Bet365, 11/2 generally)
Indian Creek may well improve for his seasonal return effort, and there’s little doubt that Tyger Bay was undone by racing on the wrong side of the track here last time when behind a progressive improver. However, this may go to LEQUINTO, who has been on our radar for the past six weeks and has been undone by a slow pace and blocked passages. He returns to Windsor, where he scored twice last season, and the move back to turf is a positive one – particularly a straight track. He is still unexposed at this trip, and while many will have ground concerns, he showed up very well on soft ground in the Portland Handicap when finishing to good effect. He should have no trouble here and is well handicapped and could be coming to the boil at the right time.
4.50 Kempton – DOLOS (1.5pt win – 5/1 Bet365, 4/1 generally)
DOLOS figures on a good mark here, but more importantly, he is into what is effectively a 0-140, and this is some good placing by trainer Paul Nicholls who has had an excellent record in this race in recent years (he won two of the last three and second last year). I am happy to forgive Dolos his Ascot run, given outside of his chase debut in a four-runner field, he had performed poorly at that venue on previous attempts. He has been lightly raced this season, and this has surely been a target race (he won this in 2019), and plenty of his rivals have their negatives. This is surely a track too sharp on good ground for Red Rookie and Not Available, while Before Midnight – despite having won right-handed – would prefer going the other way around. He is likely to be taken on for the lead by Mercian Prince, and they could cut each other’s throats here and set this up for the selection. Only Money will find easier opportunities than this and has a blunder in him, while Jay Jay Riely has been well-placed and is not well-handicapped.
Daryl Carter’s Best Bets
3.40 Kempton – DORKING LAD (1pt E/W – 25/1 generally) + FORGOT TO ASK (0.5pt E/W – 16/1 Bet365, 14/1 generally)
3.54 Windsor – LEQUINTO (2pt win – 6/1 Bet365, 11/2 generally)
4.50 Kempton – DOLOS (1.5pt win – 5/1 Bet365, 4/1 generally)
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