Kingscross on track

13 April 2012

Get on board Kingscross at Kempton Park tomorrow. The big, bold chestnut gelding, who reappears following a win at rainsoddden Goodwood nine days ago, is on a favourable mark in the televised sixfurlong John Smith's Sprint Championship Handicap .

Trained by Michael Blanshard at Upper Lambourn, the four-year-old was beautifully ridden by Jimmy Quinn at Goodwood.

Quinn, who knows him like the back of his hand, held his mount up at the rear of the field early on and did not make his move until two furlongs from home.

Conjuring a strong run out of Kingscross, the pair gained superiority in the final 100 yards to win by a neck from Lucayan Monarch.

Blanshard, who boasts a strong curriculum vitae, having learned his trade with the likes of Henry Cecil, Barry Hills and Henry Candy, said: "I think Kingscross idles in front, so it is best to produce him late. He loves a bit of give in the ground, and when he gets that, he shines. Hopefully the Wokingham Handicap and the Stewards' Cup will be on his agenda this season if he gets his ideal running conditions."

The weather forecast for tomorrow predicts a warm, sunny day but provided the ground at Kempton, which is at present good to soft, does not dry out too much, then Kingscross (4.10, nap) has bright prospects of completing the double.

You can't keep Kieren Fallon out of the news at the moment, and the fact that his old boss Lynda Ramsden has tentatively booked him for Bishops Court (3.00) in the Listed Achilles Stakes, which kicks the Kempton TV action, is a strong pointer. The gelding finished third to Mozart in last year's Nunthorpe Stakes at York but was reported later to have sustained a hairline fracture of the pelvis.

He showed no ill effects on his reappearance at Beverley when beaten by Kier Park and Borders and should improve for that run.

With some other entries likely to switch to Sandown's Temple Stakes on Monday it could make it easier for those left in the line-up, of which Bishops Court certainly makes most appeal.

Compton Dragon (3.35, nb) is set to be the star of the Listed Heron Stakes after finishing seventh to Rock of Gibraltar in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Gerard Butler's charge raced on the less favoured stands side, yet was beaten only five and a half lengths by the Aidan O'Brien-trained winner.

Sir Michael Stoute's Comfy could be the one to give Compton Dragon most to do.

Comfy lived up to his name on only his second start when taking last term's Acomb Stakes at York in impressive style and was a creditable fifth to Rock of Gibraltar in the Dewhurst Stakes.

In the final televised event at Kempton, a mile and a quarter Stan Jamessponsored event, Counsel's Opinion (4.40) has obvious claims. Another who appreciates some 'cut' in the ground, Chris Wall's representative - formerly with handler Sean Woods - gave notice of better things to come when fifth to Jabaar in a big field at Newmarket.

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