Murdanova has finally landed on a winning mark and worth backing in the nine-runner nursery handicap over six furlongs of Kempton polytrack today; twenty-four days ago this Zebedee colt nigh on replicated a previous ‘career-best’ time-handicap mark, when runner-up to subsequent winner, Illegal Blonde on Wolverhampton Tapeta.
Realistically Murdanova wasn’t at the races with Illegal Blonde, winning for the third time in her last four outings, and much-improved, but the way he ran away from the rest, with a strong finish, was eye-catching to this experienced eye.
Under-estimated jockey John Fahy will be riding Murdanova for the fourth successive time; association counts, especially with two-year-olds, and though Vroom comes out similarly, and Prisom won gamely on debut last month, Kevin Frost’s charge looks a gilt-edged each-way selection with three places available.
Ronald Thompson trained him last time out! Anyway to maximise this ‘price to chance’ selection I’ll be playing a place double with Shypen in division two of the Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over a mile.
Twice-raced Shypen improved for experience when third over course and distance three weeks back; that represented a sterling effort given George Margarson’s charge was drawn very wide, in the proverbial ‘coffin box!’
Don’t tire of me mentioning the draw, you can’t beat it, in the long run; that’s what serious punting is all about, consistency and percentage.
Running in tandem will be a seven-race programme on Southwell fibresand; if Brian Ellison-trained Boolass can handle the deep stuff she will win under talented 7lbs apprentice Callum Shepherd.
With support and ordinary lucky Shepherd will make a jockey, just a question of buckling down to the task of being thoroughly professional.
SELECTIONS
Kempton: 11.00 Boolass.
11.10 Murdanova
12.40 Shypen