Turf Talk: Kick On Kick On handed shot at Lady Cecil Handicap

Kick On Kick On can become the third winner of Nottingham's Lady Cecil Handicap.
Trainer, Clive Cox.Trainer, Clive Cox.
Trainer, Clive Cox.

Clive Cox’s three-year-old sprinter can already count a course-and-distance win among his three career successes – and has the right credentials for this race, which is younger than he is.

Kick On Kick On wound up his juvenile campaign with a narrow victory here 13 months ago, giving weight almost all round under a welter 10st 1lb. He resumed successfully at Windsor in July, but three quick runs in September and October were less fruitful.

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They culminated nonetheless in an encouraging third down the A6 at Leicester, where he failed by a whisker to catch runner-up Mirza – who reopposes on the same terms. Kick On Kick On has eight years of youth on his side against that veteran, however, has struck up a good relationship with Adam Kirby and has much in his favour to prevail this time.

There is plenty to like too about racecourse debutant Space Blues earlier on the card. After his profitable American adventure at the Breeders’ Cup, Charlie Appleby tests the water closer to home with Space Blues in division two of the B&M Installations Maiden Stakes.

The Godolphin colt is especially well-related, by Dubawi of course out of a successful Group Two mare over seven furlongs.

He has something to aim at in likely favourite Private Secretary, but may well be up to the task on debut.

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Mawahib races in the same colours, but for Saeed bin Suroor, in the B&M Installations Nursery Handicap.

The New Approach filly has been knocking at the door in a maiden and two novice events so far, incrementally going up in trip.

She faces an extra two furlongs up to an extended mile and a quarter at her first handicap attempt, and is bred to appreciate it.

There is plenty of handicap intrigue on the Tapeta surface at Newcastle, but David O’Meara gives Kingdom Brunel another chance to break his duck in novice company.

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Sir Robert Ogden’s three-year-old grey is getting closer, and the Betway Novice Stakes may be his stage in a first-time tongue tie.

Kingdom Brunel has been an honourable runner-up here on his last two runs and is well worth another try after getting within two lengths of the winning favourite two weeks ago.

There are two bidding for an all-weather hat-trick in Chelmsford’s totequadpot At totesport.com Handicap.

But the busy Fieldsman may be able to floor the pair of them at decent odds.

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Back on the Polytrack last time, for his 18th start in the past seven months, David Griffiths’ former O’Meara inmate was unable to concede more than a stone to It’s Not Unusual.

But he has a 22lb pull with the penalised top weight for under four lengths this time.

Ben Pauling has found another good opportunity for his former winning point-to-pointer Whin Park, in Chepstow’s Prichards Handicap Chase.

Whin Park, successful at Lockinge and Kingston Blount in maiden and restricted company last spring, had no trouble getting off the mark under rules at his second attempt after switching to Pauling.

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The six-year-old overcame a minor tendency to jump to his left at right-handed Ludlow on his seasonal debut last month - justifying favouritism by two and a quarter lengths.

He remains in the right grade here, and is going the right way round again to boot.

Another six-year-old, Balibour, can break his duck in the Holt JCB Ltd Chase.

This novices’ limited handicap is just the ticket for Emma Lavelle’s gelding on his second attempt over fences.

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He showed his liking for the new discipline when opening his campaign with an encouraging third over two miles two furlongs at Kempton last month.

Back to the minimum trip on this galloping track, Balibour looks primed to strike.

SOBOT’S SELECTIONS

CHELMSFORD: 5.20 Dubrava, 5.50 Jack Nevison, 6.20 Dor’s Law, 6.50 Fieldsman, 7.20 Carvelas, 7.50 Footsteps Forever.

CHEPSTOW: 12.55 Head Lad, 1.25 Remastered, 2.00 Whin Park, 2.35 Ready And Able, 3.10 Balibour, 3.40 My Way, 4.15 Ector.

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MUSSELBURGH: 12.45 Son Of Feyan, 1.15 Chica Buena, 1.50 Goldencard, 2.25 David John, 3.00 Iolani, 3.30 Urban Kode.

NEWCASTLE: 4.00 Young John, 4.35 Al Suil Eile, 5.10 Solid Stone, 5.40 Harvest Day, 6.10 Kingdom Brunel (treble), 6.40 Social Butterfly, 7.10 Cardaw Lily, 7.40 Burtonwood.

NOTTINGHAM: 12.05 Winterkoenigin, 12.35 Funny Man, 1.05 Space Blues (next best), 1.40 Mawahib, 2.15 KICK ON KICK ON (NAP), 2.50 Our Oystercatcher, 3.20 Kodicat, 3.50 Zealous.