Fire And Passion looks a solid bet for an 'aged' Maiden Stakes over a mile of Kempton polytrack tonight despite a weight-for-age difference of 18 lbs and an absence of eight weeks.
Fitness isn't at issue nowadays, getting thoroughbreds ready off a break is a piece of cake, according to a veteran trainer-friend of mine; the whole operation has changed dramatically from his day when it was necessary to bring horses back into shape by starting with road work and progressing naturally.
Due to traffic problems on country roads that's definitely out nowadays as it would be dangerous with spooking racehorses but, in any case, the advent of all-weather surface gallops is much more satisfactory and indeed cost effective.
Training centres like Newmarket, Lambourn and Malton, to mention just a few, supply sophisticated up-to-date facilities, Jeremy Gask will have Fire And Passion in good trim and experience could well prove a factor when he attempts to win at the eighth attempt.
Obvious danger, twice-raced Daring Knight, will probably be favourite because so many punters favour three-year-olds when it comes down to such weighty issues but, during the first three months, physicality favours the power of aged rivals. That applies moreso at sprint distances, not so much over ten furlongs and further.
Fire And Passion achieved his best time-figure in that last outing, over course and distance. I'm confident about this Dutch Art gelding and so, apparently, is jockey George Baker!
He hasn't been booked without good reason. Once-raced Tudor Icon, one of seven three-year-old 'decs' for the ten-runner Maiden Stakes over twelve furlongs of Wolverhampton Tapeta, will not be a surprise if he causes one under Adam Beschizza.
Richard Guest, a real 'shrewdie' has found a winning opportunity and if Tudor Icon doesn't win, follow him!
Emma Owen finally landed Lutine Charlie in the winners' enclosure last week at Kempton in an apprentice race, Sophie Killoran was superb and the un-penalised nine-year-old looks gilt-edged for a similar task in an aged handicap, especially with the Irish lass claiming her full 7 lbs allowance; don't oppose.