Kempton Placepot: Thursday December 20

Neill attempts to win the Placepot at Kempton

Neill Dennehy brings you his suggested Placepot permutation from this evening's action at Kempton...

16:00 - The meeting kicks off in awkward fashion from a Placepot perspective with a seven-runner claimer. However, we'll fire just one bullet here, siding with the Jim Boyle-trained Mr Knightly. The selection is coming in off the back of a career-best effort last time when he took a seven-furlong event here with ease, taking advantage of a drop in the weights. The step back up to a mile should prove no hindrance and, with the blinkers reached for again, he really should be in the two.

16:30 - This contest looks to lack depth and it will probably pay again to focus on the front end of the market. With that in mind, another chance is given to Pat Eddery's highly-tried inmate Marvelino. The Captain Marvellous gelding doesn't look to be progressing, but he steps up in trip and should get a mile in this company. He also has a distinct class edge if he can recapture anything like his best coming back from a break. He is teamed with the solid Captain Starlight who was well fancied last time and seemed to know his job.

17:00 - The first division of this Class 6 handicap throws up two strong Placepot candidates in Ensnare and Norwegian Reward. The former only narrowly failed to run down Nant Saeson at Wolverhampton last time and had won at the same course in a tight finish from Aragorn Rouge earlier in the month, so is clearly in good heart. The latter won really well despite running free last time and one would think there is more to come.

17:30 - The second division looks to be an altogether trickier affair and tentative votes are given to Ermyn Flyer and Precision Five. Ermyn Flyer was coming back from a break when he produced a solid effort behind Norwegian Reward last time and can feel the benefit of that comeback now. He looks steadily progressive. Precision Five has been solid of late, picking up a win in August and running consistently in two races thereafter. He is holding his form and should run his race again.

18:00 - The best race of the night, and this looks competitive for the grade; the conclusion is to again fire two darts. Guest of Honour bounced back from a moderate second run to belatedly land a maiden at the third go in good style. Always holding Eltiflaat on the run to the line last time, he is expected to go well on handicap debut. The mercurial George Baker ran creditably last time and can get involved here.

18:30 - The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Honour produced her best effort so far last time when a close fourth to Casual Mover at Lingfield and can can be expected to improve for the step up to 12 furlongs. Perfect Delight landed a Newbury maiden in June, ran well enough last time on her first try over 12 furlongs, and is slipping down the weights.

Selections:
16:00: 1
16:30: 2, 5
17:00: 2, 8
17:30: 7, 10
18:00: 5, 8
18:30: 2, 4
= 32 lines

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