TippingGraeme Rodway

Graeme Rodway picks out a 10-3 winner at Kempton - find out his remaining Wednesday tip

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Cruz Control
2.00 Doncaster
1pt win

Got No Dollars
6.00 Kempton
1pt win

Heartrate
8.30 Kempton
1pt win

Nine runners have been confirmed for the feature 2m4½f handicap chase (2.00) at Doncaster and the one who takes my eye is Cruz Control, who represents the in-form Tom Lacey and Stan Sheppard.

The pair teamed up to win with Dibble Decker at Wincanton on Saturday and have been firing in the winners since Christmas. There is every chance Cruz Control can be another.

The seven-year-old has improved for the switch to chasing this season and his last two efforts have been his best. He got off the mark over fences by landing a 2m4f novice handicap chase at Newcastle in November, beating Glory And Honour by a length and a half, and ran to a similar level in defeat when a length and three-quarters behind that same rival here last time.

On that occasion Cruz Control was giving Glory And Honour 3lb more than he had done when beating him previously and just found that beyond him, but he still pulled three and three-quarter lengths clear of the remainder and was strong at the finish over the 2m3f trip.

His dam stayed 2m5f in France and there was definitely enough encouragement to be taken from his last run to suggest he might improve for an extra furlong and a half this time.

Lacey fits a tongue-strap on Cruz Control for the first time, and the trainer has a 20 per cent strike-rate with runners having their first start in the aid since the start of last year. A big run is likely.

The best bet on Kempton's nine-race all-weather card is Heartrate, who goes for Billy and Mark Loughnane in the 6f handicap (8.30).

It was this time last year when Billy began his rise to prominence as a jockey, booting home lots of winners for his dad, and Mark often has his horses right in the month of January.

The trainer had more winners in January 2021 (eight) than he managed in any other month of that year, and it was the same in 2023, when a total of 15 winners that month was even higher.

The yard has already sent out two winners this month and both came at this track last Wednesday under this rider. There is a good chance Heartrate can add to the tally.

The four-year-old has run only five times for this stable since moving from Ireland, and has dropped to a mark just 3lb higher than when successful on his debut for the yard at Ffos Las.

That was an impressive three-and-three-quarter-length success on turf in September and this is a different test on sand, but Heartrate has twice run well on Tapeta on his last three outings and was beaten two lengths in third at Southwell last month. The second there has won since.

That was just his second run in cheekpieces and he improved significantly on his first outing in the headgear on that occasion. There should be more to come from Heartrate in the aid, and he handled Polytrack in Ireland at Dundalk so should go well off the same mark as last time.

The other horse to back at Kempton is Got No Dollars, who has won twice at this track and is well treated in the mile handicap (6.00), going off a mark 6lb lower than for his last win here.

The six-year-old is now 11lb lower than for his last victory at Chelmsford in February last year and form figures reading 332434 on his last six starts prove he is threatening to cash in.

He was beaten just a head into second over this mile trip at Chelmsford in November, and shaped like he will appreciate the step back up to that distance over 7f at this course last time.

Got No Dollars was carried left at the start and ended up poorly positioned that night, but he finished strongly to take a never-nearer fourth in a race where the third and fifth have run well since. That is a solid piece of form and, granted a better break, the selection could go three places better.


Read these next:

The Punt Acca: Richard Russell's three horse racing tips at Doncaster and Kempton 

Wednesday's free racing tips: six horses to consider putting in your multiples 


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