Thoughts on Socrates at Kempton today

Socrates runs in the 5.55 at Kempton this evening (Wednesday 22nd November). Timmy Murphy rides in the six furlong maiden. Socrates was more professional on his second start and clearly benefitted from his debut experience. Six is a bit on the sharp side for him distance wise but we are getting late into the year and we want to give him a break before freshening him up for a summer campaign next season and this looked like the most sensible option, without having to wait too long to get him qualified with for handicaps. He should learn plenty from travelling at the stronger pace that he will encounter tonight, as last weeks race was run quite slowly. Its often hard for a horse to make the transition to handicaps due to the switch up in pace. Handicaps are generally more truly run races than maidens as they feature more experienced, fitter horses.

Al Reeh hasn’t quite gone on from a promising debut, but his subsequent efforts look good enough in the context of this event that he should be able to win this race unless one of the more unexposed horses steps forward. Saluti looks the most obvious candidate. Enfolding was very green on debut, however that was four months ago and the gelding may now be a different proposition.