5th-Feb-2010

I think that Philip Hobbs could hold the key to this race as well with Kilcrea Kim. He is a nicely progressive, lightly-raced individual who ran really well for a long way on his latest start at Cheltenham when stepped up to three miles for the first time.

He was hampered at the top of the hill that day, but still travelled well down it, and looked to have every chance of being involved in the finish before his stamina appeared to run out. He was actually level with the winner Ashkazar, behind the leading pair Junior and Chartreux who had gone clear, at the second last, but he just couldn’t match the Pipe horse for stamina.

The step back down to two miles and six furlongs is ideal, as is the move to an easier track. On his previous run, he had stayed on really well to win a handicap hurdle at Ffos Las, and the fourth horse from that race, Salontyre, came out and won a handicap off what was effectively a 21lb higher mark, and proved that to be no fluke by running Requin to a half a length in his next start.

Alfie Spinner is interesting, but he may not be favoured by dropping down in trip, he just doesn’t have the scope for progression that Kilcrea Kim has, and he is a shorter price, so I am letting him run. The money for Mister Hyde is well-placed, he is progressive, but he does have to step up a good deal on what he has achieved to date, and Jonjo O’Neill’s horses are just not flying at the moment, so he is short enough for me now at 5/1.

Kilcrea Kim has achieved more than he has, he is even more lightly-raced and he is almost twice his price. With more than 16 runners, he is an each-way bet.

KILCREA KIM WON (ADV 9/1, SP 11/2)