Buster and Shavansky At Kempton

After a quiet spell, we actually have runners on three consecutive days with Icebuster at Kempton on Wednesday evening and Shavansky there twenty four hours later. Both were last seen running creditable races in the Silver Cambridgeshire and these runs will put both spot on for the £50,000 London Middle Distance Final in December.

Icebuster came out on top at Newmarket, running a cracking race to finish fifth of twenty five (both Scottish Star and Silver Dixie were behind him) and this race this evening looks weaker. Although he hasn't won on the AW, he has plenty of solid form on the surface and Kempton certainly suits. However, he does need a strong pace to be at his most effective, as a slow start normally leaves him at the back of the field, while it's not ideal that he hasn't run for 54 days but there just hasn't been a suitable opportunity as he can't run on soft ground.

Shavansky was eighth at Newmarket, a solid effort as they didn't go quick enough for him and he seems better on the AW now he's well into the veteran stage. He was a course and distance winner two starts back and provided he gets a strong pace to chase, he has eachway chances with Shelly Birket taking off a useful five pounds.

Southwell wasn't too successful yesterday. Unfortunately, Madame Kintyre was slow to stride which made life very difficult from stall fourteen. She was only beaten four lengths in to seventh and with a better draw/break would have been placed. She showed she acts on the surface and in a slightly lower grade she should find a race this winter. While Blunos was plain disappointing, perhaps he just doesn't enjoy any AW surface.