Look no further than Homeboy in Kempton handicap

Native Khan faces five rivals and a task well within his capabilities in the group three, £50,000 Craven Stakes over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket today. Is he ready? That’s the ‘64000’ question, following an interview with jockey Kieren Fallon who mentioned that Ed Dunlop’s charge “will definitely improve for the run!” Presumably, the six-times champion jockey was referring to the fitness of Native Khan, so impressive when winning his first two races as a juvenile, before finishing three and a half lengths fourth to Casamento in the group one ‘Racing Post’ at Doncaster. Fallon reckons a slow-ish pace contributed to what appeared to be a disappointing finale but my time-handicap indicates otherwise, markedly so. Native Khan improved his handicap rating several pounds and is obviously a potential threat to Frankel in the 2000 Guineas, later this month. Defeat on this occasion would be financially disastrous, because Native Khan will qualify as a ‘professional special’ throughout the world which, of course, views the ‘Sport Of Kings’ nowadays.

Earlier, over the same distance, fourteen un-raced three-year-olds contest the Greville Starkey Wood Ditton Stakes. Wouldn’t veteran trainer, Barry Hills just love to win it? Greville rode John Oxley-trained Frankincense to win the ‘Lincoln’ 43 years ago when Barry was travelling head lad. Hills had a monster punt which, reportedly, enabled him to set up on his own the following year. Starkey went on to become top-grade, a real character. He died last year and this represents a fine gesture by the HQ executive and I’ll definitely have a sentimental punt on Hills’ runner, Above Standard, reported “useful!” Stable-companion Ektibaas has been placed to win the Maiden stakes over a mile at Beverley; take note!
Bottom-weight Homeboy is an interesting declaration for the twelve-runner 3-y-o handicap, over seven furlongs of Kempton polytrack this evening, mount of Hayley Turner, suspended yesterday.

This Marcus Tregoning-trained Camacho gelding is her only ride of the day and has several pounds in hand, judged on an excellent second (beaten less than a length!), over course and distance eight days ago.‘Daily Earner’ is riding superbly, no one better but she is suspended another three days next week for a moderate, over-boisterous ride on Crunched last week which was disappointing. My only reservation about Homeboy is whether or not those recent exertions have taken their toll and this will be too soon; I’ll just have to pay to find out, eh?

SELECTIONS

RACE 7 (#1) ABOVE STANDARD (e.w.)
RACE 19 (#4) NATIVE KHAN
RACE 26 (#4) EKTIBAAS
RACE 49 (#12) HOMEBOY