Sectional Debrief: Kempton Wednesday May 1

Kempton played host to racing on Wednesday.

Simon Rowlands analyses the sectionals from Wednesday's meeting at Kempton...

Acronyms can be the bane of modern life, especially for those who attend management meetings, but some acronyms do actually clarify rather than obscure meaning, once it becomes clear what they stand for. Kempton's Wednesday evening all-weather fixture was a WYSIWYG - what you see is what you get - meeting until a couple of interesting races at the end. 

Sectional mark-ups were minimal on the whole in the earlier races, with the winners - if not necessarily all of their rivals - tending to run close to par. As such, it is possible that Lamusawama may be slightly over-rated officially as his race helped closers (he was last of nine 3f out), for all that he was a deserving winner anyway.  

All of the principals in the 2-y-o race won by Suite ran close to optimum, and the form looks solid if unspectacular. Fourth-placed Twist And Shout (63 sectional rating) had been identified as having the run of the race at Newmarket on his debut but still performed a bit worse here.    

Mister Green can be rated a couple of pounds better than his victory in a mile handicap in which second and third were close to the less-than-strong pace, but not to a degree which should make him especially interesting next time. 

String Theory - the best horse on sectionals in the Wood Ditton on his debut - was impressive in success in the mile maiden, but in a disappointing overall time. A one-off sectional 3f out probably does not capture his ability fully, and it is easy to see him being rated 100, or maybe more, before long. Third-placed Lucanin (60 sectional rating) and fourth-placed Mutanaweb (48 sectional rating) finished quite well and deserve marking up also.

Albonny's race was the most steadily-run in terms of finishing speed compared to average race speed (as indicated by the 106.6% in the above table) and could prove messy form.

That "messy form" comment also applies to the 7f handicap won by Clement, but there look to be a couple of stand-out efforts in behind. Sectionals suggest that fourth-placed Dark Templar (59 sectional rating) and third-placed Knight Owl (49 sectional rating) were the best horses in the race - both closed into a quickening pace - and that it's worth siding with them next time despite overall reservations about this contest. 

The concluding 6f handicap produced by some way the best overall time on the card compared to the horses' abilities and is worth keeping an eye on. Third-placed Mambo Spirit (80 sectional rating) comes out marginally best on sectionals and may be capable of returning to winning ways shortly. 

To Follow: Dark Templar and Knight Owl
To Oppose: None  

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