6th-Apr-2024

I think that Duty Of Care has a lot in his favour here.

Jamie Osborne’s horse can be marked up on the bare form of each of his three runs this calendar year.  He was out the back in all three, two of them off a sedate pace in races in which it was difficult for the hold-up horses to get into it, the visuals confirmed by the sectional times.  And on his penultimate run, he was rushed up from the rear into the lead by the time they got to the end of the back straight, so it wasn’t surprising that he tired late on.

I think that the return to Kempton is a positive, four of the best five runs of his life have been there, including his run to finish second in this race last year, and two of his three all-weather wins have been there.  Also, there is lots of pace on here, all going well, and that should suit this hold-up performer.

The handicapper dropped him by 1lb for his latest run to a mark of 90, which was a bonus, because there could be a good handicap in him off this mark.  Saffie Osborne takes the ride for the first time, another positive, and, while he is drawn wide, which isn’t ideal, his rider should be able to drop him in behind runners from early, before they get to the first turn, as long as the forward-goers go forward as you expect them to.  There are five or six forward-goers and/or leaders and/or prominent racers in here.

DUTY OF CARE WON (ADV 8/1, SP 6/1)