Kempton - Wed 25 Feb 2026
Electrocution has stepped forward on his last couple of starts and got off the mark at Wolverhampton at the beginning of the month. Despite showing an improved level of form, a 4lb rise does ask more of Chelsea Banham's gelding and HOVE RANGER might be the one to take advantage. Runner-up on his handicap bow at Lingfield, he is expected to have more to offer from the same rating. Others to consider are Giles Glory and Private Project.
MARLBOROUGH PLACE sets a decent standard judged on his two starts in Ireland and it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he proved capable of defying a 7lb penalty following his Limerick success back in July. Holly Mist showed signs of inexperience when second at Lingfield earlier in the month and may well have benefited from that outing, while Ablon completes the shortlist.
POPMASTER retains plenty of enthusiasm, with the eight-year-old returning to the winner's enclosure here over a mile three weeks ago when having Nikovo back in third. Despite a 3lb swing in the weights, Ed Walker's gelding has every chance of confirming the form and backing that success up. Kingdom Come wasn't disgraced over C&D behind a subsequent Listed winner and is of significant interest off a 2lb lower mark.
Holy Fire showed significant improvement to get her head back in front over 7f here last month and commands respect, but it may pay to side with TOP OF THE CLASS. Mark Loughnane's mare filled the runner-up berth over an extended mile at Wolverhampton on her most recent start and, with all three of her career victories coming over C&D, she looks the one to be on. I Am Me isn't ruled out either.
Group 3 winner Tadej sets the standard with an official rating of 105 and holds an obvious chance, while Utmost Good Faith seeks a four-timer and is one to keep an eye on. However, HIDDEN FORCE made a deep impression when scoring on his sole juvenile start over 7f here in December and has plenty of scope for improvement. The extra furlong will suit this well-bred son of Frankel and he looks the one to side with.
All of these have claims, but none more so than HELGA. Andrew Balding's filly took a big step forward when winning over C&D on just her second start and that effort suggests that an opening mark of 77 should be workable. Only In Manila also won over this track and trip on his latest outing and he has to be noted on his handicap bow. Parisian Scholar is the pick of the remainder.
The recent Lingfield winners Combustion and Invincible Speed both have to be noted, but their new marks demand more from them. With that in mind, preference is for TYGER BAY, who is a five-time C&D winner and he was only beaten a neck into second when last seen at Chelmsford in December. Em Four is another who arrives with valid claims.
HOVE RANGER wasn't without promise in three qualifying runs and duly stepped up nicely to finish a good second on his handicap debut over 8f at Lingfield. The drop in trip raises a question, but he's open to further improvement and earns the vote. Electrocution was off the mark at Wolverhampton last time and a small rise leaves him on a competitive mark still. He can again go well and looks the danger although Giles Glory is certainly capable still in the reapplied visor and not easily dismissed.
Marlborough Place is likely capable of better for his new yard, having signed off his time in Ireland with a win at Limerick but he's conceding plenty of weight to the selection HOLLY MIST, who is favoured on this occasion. She improved from her debut despite plenty not going right at Lingfield last time and holds strong claims here assuming things go smoother. Ablon is respected also as she too is coming off an improved effort when runner-up over 8f here. The drop to 7f looks fine and she may be the main danger to the selection.
He might be making his AW debut but GOD OF WAR has plenty of potential given he kept good company in turf handicaps at three. He was tried at Listed level as a 2yo also and it's easy to see him getting back into a mark in 100s this season. Nikovo has been in good form recently, albeit without winning, and he's a solid alternative with a good run seeming assured, with similar comments applying to Popmaster, who likes it here and still looks competitively weighted up 3lb and down in trip.
HOLY FIRE scored with a bit in hand here last time, when it was reported she'd benefitted from a change in training routine, and 4lb rise looks most manageable given it wasn't that long ago she was competing off marks in the 80s. Luminous Warrior failed to run to form last time but with excuses and he's considered on his earlier C&D win with his mark still looking fair. I Am Me is third choice. He's proving consistent, likes this C&D and remains on a fair mark.
Tadej sets the form standard being a Group 3 winner at two but he can races keenly and didn't get home over an extended 6f when last seen. It's a worry, therefore, that he's now asked to go 8f. He also needs to show that he's trained on. Let's instead go with Godolphin's HIDDEN FORCE, who was impressive over 7f here on debut and should prove well suited by the step up to 8f - he's a middle-distance bred son of Frankel. His yard has also won four of the last five runnings of this race, including with subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech in 2024. Venetian Prince met defeat at short odds at Southwell on his return but is better than that could be the one to follow the selection home.
All five of these can be given a chance and it's a tricky race to call. Parisian Scholar has already achieved a fair bit despite having yet to race beyond 8f - he's bred to relish middle-distances. He's also been gelded, so there's surely more to come, but the same can be said of MOMENT OF LIGHT. He showed promise in three qualifying runs last year and has been gelded since his last run, while he also gets a first-time tongue-tie. He's surely better than an opening mark of 72. Toastmaster shaped as though a trip like this would suit last time and is considered also.
COMBUSTION has won six of his last eight starts and is particularly well suited by this 6f trip, being asked a fair question from off the pace at Lingfield last time and coming through with flying colours. A 7lb rise asks more but he's capable of better still. Em Four is consistent and finished runner-up for this rider over C&D three starts back. He looks the danger to the selection although Invincible Speed is in form himself and comes here off a win at Lingfield last time. He may still have a bigger effort in him.
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