Bussa has been shaping as if ready to cash-in on his reduced handicap mark and at 11/2 is strongly fancied to do so in the 7.30 at Kempton.
David Evans’ charge has won just twice from 24 starts on the level, winning a maiden back in 2010 of an official rating of 85 and registering his last success in a classified race at Salisbury in May 2011 off a rating of 69.
He went on to be placed in a class 5 handicap at Haydock off 72 in July 2011 after which his form tailed off badly.
However his handicap mark plummeted as a result to just 50, and his last two runs have suggested it is just a matter of time before he takes advantage and gets belatedly back into the winners’ enclosure.
The four-year-old only gave way close home when finishing a 1 1/4 length third of 13 to Breakheart over a mile at this track last month, and then ran another solid race over course and distance 8 days ago when fourth of 13 to Welsh Inlet.
On the latter occasion he raced with the pace before leading two out and being unable to find any extra close home to be beaten just 2 lengths.
He now gets into this contest off the same mark as both those races (50) and the booking of Adam Kirby suggest to me that connections mean business this evening.
Kirby has a near 21.5% strike rate when teaming up with the stable in the past 12 months (6 wins, 4 places from 28 rides), and is riding better than ever at present.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Bussa (11/2 bet365, Hills – BOG)