On Wednesday the 6f Class 2 conditions stakes at Kempton, sees the reappearance of the stable stalwart Montassib who runs in preparation for another tilt at Ascot’s Champions Sprint where he will meet stable mate Almeraq.
Montassib is already a Group 1 winner but has only been seen on the track on 6 occasions since finishing 5th in the Group 1 Ascot race in 2024. He runs well fresh, 3 of his 8 wins coming off a break and he won on his only AW start.
The race is farmed by Goldophin and James Fanshawe who are represented by 3 in the 7 runner field and the market will be dominated by two of those Kind of Blue and Wise Approach. The presence of Spy Chief will ensure an end to end gallop that will suit Montassib.
It is a fascinating contest in which the hope is Montassib will show himself to still be capable of running to a mark of 110+ and continue what has been a stellar career. His price of 13/2 would be tempting ew if there were 8 runners but with only six in the line up, I will watch without a financial interest.
The decision to run Venetian Lion at Kempton rather than Nottingham strongly confirms that Haggas is keen to avoid fast ground for the rapidly improving 3yo who heads for the Class 4 0-85 handicap at 7.00pm. The draw in stall 2 should enable Tom Marquand to get a good position on the far rail and then find the gaps to win with a bit in hand.
The 5lb rise for his latest win at Pontefract was very generous from the handicapper, only rivaled by the 2lb rise Silver Lake was given for her first Salisbury win.
Venetian Lion as we highlighted before his Pontefract win has enormous scope for further improvement. His dam has produced nine winners, seven have been rated 90 or higher. The manner of his Pontefract win suggested he could join her 90+ rated progeny – even with the 5lb rise he is still on a mark of 81. He should have won on the AW at Southwell on his first try on an artifical surface. Most of his highly rated relatives have excelled on the AW.
Tom Marquand won this race in 2024 for Ed Walker on Devoirs Choice who was completing a hat trick and although he faces 7 course winners in the maximum field of 14 only trouble in running looks the danger. The forecast strong pace will be a big help to Marquand in negotiating a clear pathway through.
The market involving fancied Haggas horses has become a major issue over the season and from next season I will be changing my staking method. The simple 1-2-3 pt system is no longer an accurate method to advise the level of bets, given the lack of liquidity in the markets. The 9/4 opening price was what I expected and I rate Venetian Lion a 3pt maximum Bet under the current system.
The yards 2yo’s are running into a nice vein of form Al Qayed gave the backers of the 1/4 market leader Divide and Conquer a real fright at Bath.
The Too Darn Hot filly Alannah Bananah has her second outing in the Catterick Novice at 2.32. As always in the Autumn when Haggas sends any runner to the Northern tracks they look to maintain a high strike rate and the Haggas Tudhope combination is 8-16 over the past 2 seasons.
This is a hot novice for Catterick and she takes on a couple of more experienced rivals with considerably higher ratings. She will be a big price- and is best watched for the future, when racing over longer trips.
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