19:00 Kempton: Timeform preview and free Race Pass

Kempton’s evening card begins with five contests over a mile with much the best of them being the 0-105 handicap for older horses (19:00) to be contested by a field of ten.

Positive (Timeform weight-adjusted rating: 116) is a smart performer who doesn’t have too many miles on the clock for a six-year-old. Having won the Solario Stakes at Sandown as a two-year-old, he was tried in Group 1 company earlier in his career. But after missing the whole of 2021 he returned with his sights lowered to handicaps last year and gained his first win since his two-year-old days when coming out best in a close finish to a steadily-run contest at Wolverhampton at the end of December. That shows he retains all his ability and this Lincoln entry is capable of following up.

Baldomero (114) was second past the post behind Positive at Wolverhampton, beaten half a length, but gave the third a bump which resulted in the placings being switched. That was another good effort, though, in first-time cheekpieces, just a day after being beaten a head over a slightly longer trip at the same track. Baldomero was placed several times last year after a win at Kempton in March over a mile and a quarter and is a threat back at a track where he runs well for ‘Hot Trainer’ Mick Appleby.

Winter Derby entry Via Serendipity (117) gained his latest win over a mile at Sandown last June and comes here in good form on the all-weather this winter over longer trips. He was narrowly beaten when placed at Lingfield and Wolverhampton on his last couple of starts last year, just a neck behind Baldomero when third on the latter occasion, and wasn’t disgraced when fourth to Forest of Dean in a conditions event at Newcastle last month.

Noisy Night (113) is another to consider, not least because he has won on all three previous visits to Kempton when running-up a hat-trick here as a two-year-old. He was only beaten a head on his belated three-year-old reappearance at Newcastle in December over six furlongs but wasn’t in the same form over seven at the same track last month. He’s not yet proven over a mile but has a lightly-raced profile and is another with a Lincoln entry.

Greatgadian (114) has raced mainly on turf but has won three of his four starts on the all-weather, including his first two outings last year over a mile and a quarter at Chelmsford. He ended 2022 in good heart too, finishing not far behind Via Serendipity in his last couple of starts.

Imperial Sands (114) comes here on the back of a course-and-distance win in January but has the ‘Warning Horse’ flag as he doesn’t look an obvious type to follow up as his win owed plenty to an excellent ride from the front from Hollie Doyle, having nothing to spare when holding on by a neck from Aussie Banker.

Naval Commander (114) and Bear Force One (114§) were sixth and seventh respectively in the same race, neither of them discredited. Naval Commander probably needs a longer trip, though, lightly raced since winning over 11 furlongs here in late-2021, while Bear Force One has his quirks and was better placed than most last time.

On A Session (115) ended a long losing run when a narrow winner at Musselburgh last June but was always behind after four months off on his return at Southwell last month when going with little fluency.

American Star (107?) is another of the Lincoln entries but is trying a mile for the first time. He’s the only one of these who lacks a recent run and isn’t the easiest to assess in terms of current wellbeing, having run poorly on his only three-year-old start last May. He had fairly useful form to his name at two, though, when coming up short in pattern company but winning twice, including a nursery at Newbury.

Timeform analyst’s verdict

Positive gained a first success since his two-year-old days when landing a small-field affair at Wolverhampton five weeks ago and, given he remains a pretty low-mileage six-year-old, could well be up to following up from a handy draw. Baldomero, who finished narrowly behind the selection last time, goes well at this venue and he's a threat, with Via Serendipity and Noisy Night others to consider.

Timeform weight-adjusted ratings

117 Via Serendipity

116 Positive

115 On A Session

114 Baldomero

114 Greatgadian

114 Imperial Sands

114 Naval Commander

114§ Bear Force One

113 Noisy Night

107? American Star

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