Fontano worth a wager at 6s
Fontano shaped with bags of promise last time out and makes plenty of appeal at 6/1 to open his account over hurdles in the 2.35 at Kempton.
Emma Lavelle’s five-year-old was a decent bumper horse and shaped with plenty of promise in his first season over hurdles when twice finishing second to useful types.
He ran a blinder when beaten 2 1/2 lengths by First In The Queue at Huntingdon back in March and then chased home Current Event at Newbury.
Although beaten 18 lengths that day the winner is an above average sort who is now rated 134 and the form reads well in the context of this race given that the selection gets in on a mark of 115.
That certainly looks workable to me, and the gelding shaped well on his comeback run when keeping on nicely to finish fifth of 10 to Dragon’s Den at Wincanton before putting in a really eye-catching effort at ascot last time out when fifth of 13 to Merehead.
Held up, he made a couple of costly errors before staying on very strongly to be beaten just 5 lengths in the 2mf contest, and the way he finished suggested that a step up in trip to this afternoon’s 3m journey would bring about further improvement.
If that is the case then this looks a golden opportunity for him to get his head in front, and with the Lavelle team in excellent form he is a confident pick.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Fontano (6/1 generally available – BOG firms)
Slam handicapped to strike
Tom George has his team in great form, and his Slam has to be of serious interest at 7/2 in the finale at Kempton (3.40).
The gelding was a Useful sort on Flat for Barry Hills and although yet to deliver over hurdles he has shown enough to suggest he could be well treated from his current handicap mark of 90.
The six-year-old was heavily backed when last seen just over a year ago at Wincanton, and stayed on well to finish a never nearer 4 1/4 length third to Nothing Is Forever without being knocked about.
That run suggested that connections would have little difficulty in placing him to score in handicap company, and with the assessor having since dropped him by 2lb this looks a glorious opportunity for his to get his head in front where it matters.
It’s also interesting that connections are fitting him with a tongue tie for the first time today, and with the very promising Harry Derham taking another 5lb off his back everything looks in place for a huge run.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Slam (7/2 Coral)
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