THE Queen, whose 13 successes as an owner in 2010 included a notable victory by Free Agent at York in July, bids to sign off the year with another winner at today’s twilight meeting at Kempton.
The distinctive Royal colours will be worn by George Baker aboard Fascination as she seeks to open her account on behalf of Newmarket trainer Michael Bell in the digibet Handicap.
On her latest start, Fascination, a well-related daughter of Galileo, went down fighting to a North Yorkshire-trained rival in Brian Ellison’s Stadium Of Light, who outbattled her in a driving finish.
There was, though, no disgrace in that defeat and Fascination may not need to produce an improved performance to go one better today for the Queen, whose winners this year include Free Agent in the John Smith’s Silver Cup on Knavesmire and Humdrum.
Humdrum narrowly got the better of the Tim Easterby-trained Mariachi Man at Doncaster in October.
Kevin Ryan has plenty to be satisfied about in 2010.
The Hambleton trainer has 106 winners to his credit, the third time in his career he has achieved a century in a season, and Everymanforhimself offers Ryan another possible success in the Racing At skysports.com Handicap.
The six-year-old gained an overdue victory in a tight finish at Southwell on his latest start a couple of weeks ago.
He has good prospects of following up in this six furlong dash.
Recent Wolverhampton winner Wolf Slayer (4.10) and Richard Fahey’s Mister Laurel (7.10) are two others with sound winning chances.
At Lingfield tomorrow, the final Flat action of the year sees Fromsong (3.30) bidding to take his career tally to 12 wins on the eve of him becoming a teenager.
An evergreen veteran who has run no fewer than 123 times, Fromsong ran a fine race to finish second to Stratton Banker over this course and distance a couple of weeks ago.
It would be wonderful to see him go one better tomorrow for trainer Dean Ivory, who has booked former North Yorkshire-based jockey Sam Hitchcott to take the mount.
The nap vote goes to Sarah’s Art (1.30), who shaped well to run the Mick Easterby-trained Prince James to half a length at Wolverhampton recently over six furlongs.
The step back up to seven furlongs tomorrow should suit Sarah’s Art, a previous course and distance winner.
The in-form Mongoose Alert (1.00) and recent course winner South African Gold (2.00) are two others to consider on this bumper eight-race programme.
Racing selections
Kempton (today)
4.10 Wolf Slayer, 4.40 Takeaway, 5.10 Sunny Spells, 5.40 Pipers Piping, 6.10 Fascination, 6.40 Everymanforhimself, 7.10 Mister Laurel.
Today’s other meetings:
Lingfield and Taunton. The meeting at Haydock was abandoned.
Lingfield (tomorrow)
12.00 Cloud Illusions, 12.30 Brandy Snap, 1.00 Mongoose Alert, 1.30 Sarah’s Art (NAP), 2.00 South African Gold, 2.30 Mr Skipiton, 3.00 You’relikemefrank, 3.30 Fromsong.
Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Uttoxeter and Warwick.
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