3 minute read

Sam King landed a 55/1 double (11/2 and 15/2 winners) at Newcastle when last in action on Monday and he’s back with three selections on this wonderful Wednesday.

The Racing League comes to a close this evening as it heads to Southwell for the first time and once again there are plenty of competitive handicaps for punters to get their teeth stuck into.

There are two horses that catch my eye at the Racing League, with the first coming in the William Hill Epic Boost Racing League Race 38 Handicap (6.45).

I can see why Dionysian is favourite stepping back up to a mile, but he's hardly solid and it could pay to take a chance on Kingmania, who returns to the all-weather for just the second time in her career.

James Ferguson's recently inherited five-year-old mare made her stable and all-weather debut when scoring over course and distance off a mark of 78 in April. She's only had three outings subsequently and it's easy enough to discard the last two given they came at Listed level, and she was always up against it on the ratings in both of those contests.

A current mark of 81 puts her 3lb above that winning course and distance effort but she won by half a length that day and left the impression there could be more to come on an artificial surface. It's interesting connections opt to come back here after setting some pretty lofty targets and the race should be run to suit.

Stall thirteen isn't ideal, but she is generally dropped in and played late so I'd expect David Probert to take his time on her. The horse on her inside, Harswell Duke, should help push the early speed allowing her to slot in and with the tempo likely to be a decent one throughout, I'm hoping Kingmania can pick her way through the pack late on to remain unbeaten at the Nottinghamshire venue.

Selection: Kingmania – General 5/1

Our second selection on the card is also ridden by David Probert. I'm hoping it can be a profitable night following the Welsh-born 2008 Champion Apprentice and he rides Scampi in the finale William Hill Epic Value Racing League Race 42 Handicap (8.45).

Andrew Balding's horse has been in the form of his life this season and although his latest effort doesn't look all that appealing in the formbook, that certainly doesn't tell the whole story.

Sent off just 14/1 for York's Ebor on the back of a battling success in the Shergar Cup at Ascot, he found himself stuck in a pocket with two furlongs to run having travelled ever so well into the contest under Jason Hart. Plenty of those towards the rail suffered for racing room as the race developed in front of them and Scampi, who was situated slightly more towards the centre, also had to sit a suffer as the pace quickened. He was arguably one of the last horses off the bridle that day and although he didn't exactly fly home once in the clear, I suspect tackling the 1m6f trip for the first time on the Knavesmire probably just stretched his stamina.

Dropping back to a mile and a half here in what looks like a much less competitive, albeit still tricky, event should see him to better effect. A mark of 97 puts him on a career-high mark but connections were eyeing a trip to Melbourne for the race that 'stops a nation' in November not so long ago, so clearly feel he has more to offer, as do I. The front two pulled twelve lengths clear of the third, a progressive horse in his own right, at Ascot and I still think Scampi has something in hand back over this trip.

There should be enough pace on up front to give him a decent target to aim at and with the return to an all-weather surface no issue, a bold bid is surely on the cards.

Selection: Scampi – General 3/1

Moving away from the Racing League, but sticking with the all-weather action, we head to Kempton for our third and final wager.

The closing Unibet More Boosts In More Races Handicap features some interesting unexposed types, but I'm quite surprised Silver Nightfall isn't at the head of the betting and she's surely a point or two too big at the current prices.

The likes of Malka and Mordor have attracted some early support with punters seemingly expecting improvement but it's tough to knock what Silver Nightfall has achieved in recent starts and I wouldn't be surprised if she went in again.

Gay Kelleway's filly made it three from six on the all-weather when relishing the step up to a mile and a quarter over course and distance a fortnight ago. She beat a solid yardstick in Compliant that day with plenty to spare at the line and it's easy to think there could be more on the cards.

The daughter of Adaay is the sole course and distance scorer in the field and although some would see stall eleven as a negative, I'm actually quite pleased by the draw for this hold-up filly. I'm hoping the likes of Eagle Court and Havanazam will inject some pace into the contest and if they do, I could easily see Hollie Doyle producing Silver Nightfall with a well-timed run down the outside of the field to defy her 4lb rise for that recent track and trip success.

Selection: Silver Nightfall – General 11/2