Kempton - Wed 10 Jun 2026
Saratoga Gold continues to knock at the door and must feature prominently in calculations, but ROGUE EMPIRE is difficult to oppose. The son of Time Test was able to build on an encouraging C&D reappearance effort to score impressively on the grass at Lingfield and should go close again with Owen Lewis taking 3lb off his back. Further Measure is next best.
Breaking from stall one, a chance can be taken on the Richard Hannon-trained DARK REIGN. The impeccably-bred daughter of Dark Angel's dam is a half-sister to the classy Inisherin and if inheriting some of that speed, might prove tough to reel in. Guadalevin made a pleasing debut at Southwell and edges out Andrew Balding's newcomer Pequenita as the next best.
The vote goes to VELVET VEGA, who made an encouraging start to her racing career when chasing home subsequent Listed runner-up and Irish Oaks entry Earth Shot at Newmarket. The Gosdens' filly is bred to be a smart middle-distance performer herself and can take the required step forward with that experience under her belt. Charlie Appleby's Tribal Queen is the main threat, but don't rule out Danseuse following a debut full of promise at Newcastle.
SILCA BAY broke his turf duck with more comfort than the winning margin would suggest at Goodwood on Friday and, back on an artificial surface where he has been much more effective previously, he can go in again. That said, the four-year-old does face some stiff competition, including the likes of last-time-out winners I Am Me and Bold Suitor, whilst Billy Mill and Lady Manzor aren't out of this either.
Marengo Storm finished a creditable second on his handicap bow at Windsor and the booking of William Buick suggests another big run could be in the offing. Moonshine is a player based on her C&D success two starts ago, but it may pay to side with JUMEIRAH SANDS. The daughter of Blue Point defied a penalty to land back-to-back novice wins at Southwell latest and might do even better now handicapping.
Angel Gabriel has yet to finish outside of the top two across his three starts, most recently when winning at Lingfield in December, and he must be respected on his handicap debut. Previous C&D winner Sayidah Hard Spun is also one to watch, but AMAZING JOURNEY returned to action with a promising third at Leicester last month and is able to compete from an unchanged mark. If the son of Starspangledbanner can build on that display, he might prove tough to beat.
Jindri signed off her three-year-old campaign with a victory over this trip at Southwell in November and must be considered on her return to the fray. Dual novice winner Golden Muse was far from disgraced in a higher grade at Doncaster last time and is noted, but DESERT BELLE might be the one. The daughter of Masar weakened out of contention when fourth on her handicap bow at Wolverhampton, but it would come as no surprise were she to bounce back.
Imperial Cult made the perfect start for the George Baker yard when successful at Lingfield in April and holds an obvious chance in his bid to follow up, but KARAKULA might get the better of him. James Ferguson's filly has found one too good over an extended 1m1f at Wolverhampton the last twice but with Toby Moore claiming a handy 7lb on this occasion, she could prove a tough nut to crack. Golspie is another to note.
SARATOGA GOLD has been hitting the goalpost for a while but, still relatively fairly handicapped, now could be the chance for him for him to get his head in front. Rogue Empire, however, is also well treated in the weights and arrives off the back of success on his previous start, while Further Measure won here three starts back and is a generally consistent sort.
GUADALEVIN was placed on debut (albeit in a field of just six runners) and could come on from that outing. Rosevannion, however, also has experience under her belt, finishing mid-field at Wolverhampton, and first-time-out Pequenita represents a potentially potent Balding/Murphy combination.
VELVET VEGA delivered a good debut when second of seven at Newmarket during the Guineas Festival and looks the one to beat here. Tribal Queen, however, laid down a perfectly workable debut when she was placed at Haydock over this trip last month. The same can be said of Danseuse, who steps down in trip from her first and only previous run, in which she was third of six on the all-weather at Newcastle.
BILLY MILL is still reasonably handicapped, despite finishing in the placings three times on the bounce going into this. He could go one better and win again at Kempton, this time over 1m (his last victory here was over 7f in January). Havana Touch won at Kempton three starts back but, though he was second on his subsequent start, he'll need to prove he can bounce back from a slightly lacklustre mid-field finish last time out. Criminal has iffy form but, if he can build on his last run and show it was a blip, returning to something resembling her penultimate start, he's entitled to at least enter the placings.
MARENGO STORM won here over the same trip early last month and followed that with a second-placed finish on the turf. He looks likely to come up with the goods, though Jumeirah Sands, if she can contend with a heavy handicap, shouldn't be ruled out in her bid for hat-trick. For his part, Angel Of Anfield was in good form during most of his two-year-old season but disappointed at Ascot on his first start of this year and will need to overcome a still hefty handicap if he's to bounce back from that.
He carries plenty, but ANGEL GABRIEL is surely nevertheless dismissed at your peril, having won so nicely at Lingfield over this trip and distance in December. Unlike such runners as Amazing Journey, however, he hasn't run this season. Amazing Journey finished third last time out and had recorded two wins last summer. Big Harry is in a similar boat to Angel Gabriel, having won in in November after two placed efforts, but arriving here fresh having not run in 2026.
CLUB CLASS looks the classiest here, having won at this course and over a similar trip in September. She will, however, have to step up from a couple of mid-field finishes so far this season. Jindri scored over the all-weather at Southwell in November but hasn't run this year. Shushi, by contrast, has both run and been in the placings this year, but still has a bit to find from the overall results of her four-start career to date.
UZINCSO won here over a furlong further than today's trip in September but has been a little in and out since. Sonnerie Power has also won here, in his case as recently as January, but will need to show an uptick in form after a few uninspiring performances of late. Karakula, meanwhile, should be borne in mind, having finished second on two outings this season.
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