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Sam King is back with three selections on Wednesday including a strong fancy at Kempton.
Ground conditions are officially described as heavy at Nottingham this afternoon, but that shouldn't pose any issues for Fantasy Master, who looks to have an excellent chance of getting back to winning ways in the Hkir In December Handicap (3.42).
The Darryll Holland-trained sprinter is a dual course and distance winner and arrives on the back of a fine second-place finish over six furlongs here eight days ago. It's no surprise to see the connections turn him out shortly off the same mark given conditions are exactly what he excels in.
The gelded son of Sepoy had his rivals in trouble a long way from home that day and I'd hazard a guess Tom Marquand will be making plenty of use of him dropping back to the minimum trip. He's due to go up 2lb for that effort last week and the five-year-old gets a strong vote to land a fourth course success.
Selection: Fantasy Master – General 5/2
Plenty would have taken note of Elladonna after her debut effort and it's hardly surprising she's been well-backed in the Unibet Horserace Betting-Operator Of The Year Maiden Fillies' Stakes (4.30).
In all truth, she's probably a bit shorter than I'd have liked to be betting but I just can't help but think she's going to take plenty of stopping with that promising initial run at Salisbury under her belt.
Held up in the rear in the early stages, she travelled kindly under the hands of today's rider Callum Shepherd and was found searching for room with approximately a furlong and a half to travel. Once switched left, she picked up nicely, but inexperience soon told and despite running on strongly in the closing stages, the daughter of Belardo wasn't able to lay a glove on the main principles, eventually finishing back in fifth (beaten just under two lengths).
James Fanshawe's horses are well known for needing their first outing and it's easy to upgrade that run given it's unlikely she'd have been anywhere near fully tuned up. A good draw in stall two should ensure Callum Shepherd can adopt a prominent position and I'm expecting her to prove a class apart from her rivals in this Kempton opener.
Selection: Elladonna – General 13/8
We head back to Nottingham for our final selection. The Follow WorldPool On X Handicap (4.42) run over two miles is going to take some getting in these conditions but that should suit Greek Giant.
Ed Dunlop's charge has shaped as though extreme stamina tests are what he desires in recent starts including when going down narrowly off the front over 1m6f at Chelmsford last time.
His sole outing with cut in the ground was a promising one over an inadequate mile and a quarter at this venue back in April, where he stayed on well in closing stages having been unable to go with the early gallop.
The gelded son of Teofilo makes plenty of appeal running off the same mark as his excellent Chelmsford second thirteen days ago and with further progress on the cards now going up in trip, he looks to hold solid credentials at the current prices.
Selection: Greek Giant – General 7/2
