Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Kempton ideal for Batal
BATAL Dubai can resume his progress by winning the Try Unibet’s Improved Bet Builder Handicap at Kempton tomorrow.
A quality field has assembled for the best race of the day, and Harry Charlton’s sprinter can show the benefit of his last run at Newcastle on New Year’s Day.
That was his first outing for 74 days, having won at Chelmsford back in October, so it will have pleased connections that he showed up so well for so long in such a competitive race.
Clifford Lee attempted to make all and when he was headed two furlongs out, it could possibly have been expected that he would drop away but he stuck on really gamely to finish third behind Albasheer and the reopposing Fivethousandtoone.
He is 2lb better off with the runner-up for just over a length on this occasion, so combined with the fact he should strip fitter for the run, he can turn the tables.
Charlie Appleby’s Native Approach was a beaten favourite on his debut but he still went into plenty of notebooks.
He reappears in the first division of the Unibet More Extra Place Races Maiden Stakes and it will take a smart one to beat him.
The son of Too Darn Hot was unraced at two and made his debut over seven furlongs at Kempton last month.
Having missed the break, he was always up against it but he stayed on powerfully to be just beaten half a length.
Upped to a mile this time, he should take a world of beating.
The handicapper has not been able to keep up with Simon and Ed Crisford’s Inverlochy who is out again in the Unibet Zero% Mission Fillies’ Handicap.
Winner of four of her last five starts, her winning run began off a mark of 66 and she is up to 78 now.
Her last success was only by a neck and she is 3lb higher but she is one of those who only does enough, if she is allowed to dominate.