£70,000 London Middle Distance Final

The 2013/14 AW season has had a much needed prize money boost and the £70,000 London Middle Distance Final has attracted an extremely competitive field, full of horses that have been running well in the recent qualifiers. We are lucky to be represented by both Shavansky and Icebuster, and both have excellent chances of picking up prize money. Veteran of the yard Shavansky has won two qualifiers and has a hundred percent record at the course and distance. He was given a cracking ride by five pound claimer Shelly Birkett, when winning a very competitive qualifier three weeks ago. There wasn't much pace on that day so his effort can be upgraded and he won the 2012 London Mile Final so you know the old boy is capable of winning such a contest. With his slow starts, Icebuster often gets left at the back of the field and he is left hostage to the pace on the AW. He had no chance off a stop start gallop when third last week, which was an excellent effort in the circumstances. His wide draw is actually a positive as he like to challenge wide, so at least he won't be stuck in a pocket on the rail if they do go steady. He's tremendously consistent and is more likely to run his race than Shavansky but the veteran may have more class if he's on a going day. Hopefully both put up good shows in such a valuable race.

Handicap Debut For Modem

Motivator gelding Modem makes his handicap debut in a modest looking finale at Lingfield this afternoon and he looks to have strong claims on paper. He made a promising start to his career when third on debut at Ffos Las and improved on that when fifth in a much stronger event at Windsor. Both those races were on heavy ground and switched to the polytrack, he found a mile far too sharp when disappointing at Lingfield last time out. While it looked a weak race at the time, the winner Tasrih set a very strong pace and has since confirmed himself a useful AW performer winning off 81 and the third Sweham has won a maiden so the run wasn't quite as disappointing as it looked at the time. The handicapper has given him a mark of 69 on the turf but only 64 on the AW, which enables him to take his chance in this modest Class 6 contest. While he may well be better on soft ground, the extra half a mile should suit and hopefully blinkers will help him concentrate. However, he runs against one of our old horses Yes Chef whose extremely well handicapped, 19lbs lower than his last win and back at a more suitable trip, a big run from the talented Best Of The Best's gelding wouldn't surprise.

Ivor's Secures Win Number 20 In 2013

It wasn't a bad evening at Kempton with all three representatives running solid races and bringing some prize money back to Devon. Ivors Princess finally showed some sparkle down to Class 6 company and despite making Sean Levey, riding a treble on the card, work very hard in the early stages, she ran out a cosy winner. She went up 21lbs for winning two races last year and struggled with the handicapper as she was forced to run out of her grade and completley lost her confidence. She missed the first half of this season but showed promise when third at Salisbury but two disappointing efforts meant she was on her last Flat chance on Wednesday evening. Hopefully with confidence boosted, she can exploit what is now a lenient handicap mark.

There was no pace on for Icebuster in the London Middle Distance qualifier and he was very keen under Shelly Birkett. There was nothing Shelly could do but sit and suffer from an inside draw and she did well to extricate him wide when the sprint started for home entering the home straight. Third was still a good effort in the circumstances and he will get into next week's £70,000 Final. With a field of sixteen, there should be some pace and both he and Shavansky have a good chance of earning some decent prize money.

Ice Tres made a promising return to the track, breaking on terms and wasn't keen in the early stages under David Probert. The lack of a recent run told as she weakened into fourth in the final furlong but it was a solid effort and she should remain competitive in that grade this winter.

Another Qualifier For Buster

With Icebuster dropping to 84, he isn't certain to get in the £70,000 London Middle Distance Final so he goes for the final qualifier at Kempton on Wednesday evening. He has been extremely consistent this season, posting RPR's of 87-92 on ten of his twelve starts this season. However, he is probably struggling with the handicapper, remains four pounds higher than his Haydock success and the fact that he is best off a strong pace doesn't make things easy. However, he has useful five pound claimer Shelly Birket (won on Shavansky) on board and with only seven runners, he won't be too far off the pace even if sitting last, a scenario which has seen numerous good efforts this year. Hopefully he will go pretty close tomorrow and it will be great if we can have two horses in the final.

Despite the fact we are very quiet at the minute, we also have two other runners at Kempton on Wednesday. Ice Tres returns from a 157 day absence in the first division of the twelve furlong handicap. She blew her chance with slow starts on her most recent outings so we gave her the summer off. If she returns in a better frame of mind, she is very well handicapped off 50, having placed off a five pound higher mark on hndicap debut at Wolverhampton.

Ivors Princess has been disappointing over the last eighteen months, although there were signs of a rivival when third at Salisbury and fifth at Chepstow this autumn. She is incredibly well handicapped, off a mark 13lb lower than her last win and eight pound lower than the Salisbury third. She had little chance held up off a steady pace last time and dropped into Class 6 Company, it would be no surprise if she bounced back.