Storm Rising looks to have lots going form him in the conditional jockeys’ handicap Hurdle that brings proceedings to a close on today’s card at Kempton (3.40).
This six-year-old showed immediate improvement after joining Dr Richard Newland from Irish handler Denis Hogan and bolting up by four lengths from Magic Dancer in a competitive 16-runner conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Cheltenham off a mark of 123.
Storm Rising then duly followed-up at Wetherby off the same rating before his revised mark of 137 kicked in, and he was far from disgraced off it when a 13 1/2 lengths ninth of 18 to Nietzsche in the Grade 3 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Prestbury Park.
He also ran well in a similar grade affair at Sandown back in May when fourth of 13 to Malaya off 135 and went on to round off the campaign with a solid second at Newcastle off 131.
Storm Rising then wasn’t at his best on return to action at Market Rasen when last of 14 to Scarlet Dragon in a Listed class 1 contest on hos first start following a wind-op, but was in the process of running a huge race last time out at Chrltenham when holding a slight lead at the last only to come to grief in a race won by Benny’s Bridge.
He has been nudged up 3lb for that but a revised rating of 129 still makes him look handily weighted on the pick pf his form in this class 3 affair – a grade in which he has a 33 per cent strike rate having won three times and been placed twice in nine starts.
Regular pilot Charlie Hammond also takes off a handy 3lb with his claim and underfoot conditions are ideal, so everything looks in place for a huge run.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts win Storm Rising (100/30 William Hill – BOG)