The Chronicle

Kingdom looking to rule in Essex

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MIDDLE KINGDOM can keep his unbeaten record intact with victory in the Bet toteexacta At betfred.com Handicap at Chelmsford.

John Gosden’s colt has already shown a liking for a synthetic surface, having impressed on his racecourse debut at Newcastle 12 months ago, before making a successful reappearan­ce in a handicap at Newmarket’s Craven meeting in April.

The War Front colt - who cost an eye-watering 775,000 guineas as a yearling - has presumably had his issues since, as he not made a competitiv­e appearance in the subsequent seven months.

However, the form of his Newmarket triumph is seriously impressive, with the runner-up, Euginio, and the third, Bin Battuta, both now rated in excess of 100.

Gosden would not be bringing Middle Kingdom out at this stage of the year half-cooked and running off a mark of 94 with his three-year-old allowance, he looks an attractive betting propositio­n.

Procedure is not difficult to recommend in the Betfred-sponsored nursery.

The Cheveley Park-owned grey has shaped with genuine promise on each of her three starts to date, particular­ly when mowed down late on her second visit to Kempton a couple of weeks ago.

She only ran out of gas in the dying strides on that occasion, having pulled for her head in the early stages, and there is definitely improvemen­t in the tank.

If some of that power can be harnessed on her handicap debut, an opening perch of 72 could look very generous.

Fergal O’Brien introduces his highclass bumper mare Cap Soleil to the jumping scene in the CSP Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.

The Naunton-based trainer has his string in tremendous form at this early stage

of the season and this four-yearold will be one of his biggest hopes for the coming months.

She justified market confidence when bolting up on her National Hunt Flat race debut at this venue last December before claiming Listed prizes at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and at Sandown in March.

Recent results suggests the yard’s runners are well forward and providing Cap Soleil’s jumping stands up to the test, she should prove very difficult to beat.

The Harry Fry-trained Desert Queen can land the 188bet.co.uk Bud Booth Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen for the second successive year.

 ??  ?? Trainer John Gosden
Trainer John Gosden

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