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The King's Falcon can swoop at Kempton

October 2024

The King's Falcon can put his experience to good use in the first division of the Unibet Zero% Mission/EBF Novice Stakes at Kempton on Monday.

All bar one of his rivals are making their debut, but this William Haggas-trained youngster has a very satisfactory first run under his belt already.

Owned by the King and Queen, he is a son of star stallion Dubawi out of the mare Desert Flyer, who won two of her three races for John Gosden.

Perhaps more crucially, she was a daughter of the unbeaten White Moonstone, the Fillies' Mile winner, so it is a rarefied page.

Sent to Newbury for his first run, and you do not get many penalty kicks there, he finished fourth of seven over 1400m in heavy ground, suggesting this step up to 1600m should really suit.

The big danger looks to be the Charlie Appleby newcomer Naval Command, who cost 360,000 guineas, but as a half-brother to St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov, he will surely be seen to better effect next year over further.

John and Thady Gosden's El Zoud has clearly had a problem, having been off for almost a year, but the form of his debut effort at Newcastle still makes him of interest in the Unibet More Extra Place Races Novice Stakes.

He was beaten just 0.5-lengths into third by Daarkom, now rated 82, and the 102-rated Involvement, so if he has retained all his ability during his lengthy absence, he will take some stopping.

Johnny Portman has hit a rich vein of form recently, which makes Strike interesting in the Unibet More Boosts In More Races Handicap.

While his last run was his first unplaced effort this season, he was only beaten a neck in a much better race than this at Newmarket the time before and he races off just 1-point higher on this occasion.

Portman has enjoyed four winners since the end of last month, with very few runners finishing out of the money.

Ralph Beckett continues to fire in the winners, especially among the juvenile division, which bodes very well for next season.

Another one who can head into the winter with a one by her name is Rikissa, who runs in the Free Digital Racecard At raceday-ready.com Fillies' Novice Stakes at Windsor.

She is a half-sister to Zoum Zoum, a Listed winner for Beckett a few years ago, and she attracted plenty of interest ahead of her Newbury debut.

Unfortunately, her race was almost over on coming out of the stalls, as she was very slowly away, and though she got back into contention, those exertions took their toll late on.

It would be no surprise at all to see her improve on that run massively.

Richard Fahey's Eminent Jewel is ending the season in good form and can bag another success in the British EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap at Musselburgh.

A maiden at the start of the campaign after four runs, she started back this year at Wetherby in June and won off a mark of 66.

She was then beaten less than a length into third off a 4-point higher perch at Ayr before showing her versatility to win at Newcastle after an 80-day break.

This time she will have another 4lb on her back but she is clearly an improving filly and who knows when she will stop.

Fergal O'Brien has started the new season in good form and the best is still to come from his Leloopa, who runs in the Blackmores Building Contractors Mares' "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle at Hereford.

A four times bumper runner in Ireland, she finished fourth on her debut for O'Brien before being beaten less than a length last time out.

That is just about the best bit of form on offer and it would be no surprise to see her open her account. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings on Monday. Here are the tips.

HEREFORD: Race 1: 14.30 Leloopa, Race 2: 15.00 Henry Box Brown, Race 3: 15.30 Aotano, Race 4: 16.00 Galata Bridge, Race 5: 16.30 Invictus Allen, Race 6: 17.00 Ben Lilly, Race 7: 17.30 State Of Honor, Race 8: 18.05 Leave Her To Me.

WINDSOR: Race 1: 14.42 Mockirr, Race 2: 15.12 Apple A Dey, Race 3: 15.42 Rikissa, Race 4: 16.12 Four Adaay, Race 5: 16.42 Fravanco, Race 6: 17.15 Martin Spirit, Race 7: 17.50 Desperate Dan, Race 8: 18.25 World Of Darcy.

MUSSELBURGH: Race 1: 14.50 Bulls Aye, Race 2: 15.20 Deauville, Race 3: 15.50 South Parade, Race 4: 16.20 Rory The Cat, Race 5: 16.50 Eminent Jewel, Race 6: 17.20 The Gay Blade, Race 7: 17.55 Ski Angel.

KEMPTON: Race 1: 17.05 Grenham Bay, Race 2: 17.40 Gesundheit, Race 3: 18.15 Double Red, Race 4: 18.45 THE KING'S FALCON (NAP), Race 5: 19.15 Masai Moon, Race 6: 19.45 El Zoud, Race 7: 20.15 Strike, Race 8: 20.45 Gultari, Race 9: 21.15 Dynamiste.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 17.25 Let's Go Hugo, Race 2: 18.00 Veblen Good, Race 3: 18.30 Suicide Blonde, Race 4: 19.00 A Pint Of Bear, Race 5: 19.30 Robeam, Race 6: 20.00 Van Zant, Race 7: 20.30 Eva Rosie, Race 8: 21.00 Beset, Race 9: 21.30 Blue Hero.

ALL TO COME: Rikissa (Windsor, Race 3) and The King's Falcon (Kempton, Race 4).

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