The sole runner on Sunday was very poor and didn't put in a repeat performance from the Cheltenham Festival.
Maybe it was the heavy weight which went against her, or maybe she just wasn't on a going day. Either way, she didn't run to the level we saw from her last time out.
Savante 11/2 (1pt) – Fairyhouse 5.40
Many small Irish yards go under the radar, and Colm Murphy is one. Colm is a multiple Grade 1-winning trainer and does very well with the number of horses he trains. You'll often know when he's got a good one on his hands, and he rarely messes it up.
Savante won like a 4/5F should do when winning at Navan on her return to fences, but the manner in which she won was impressive. The handicapper has slapped her with a 10lb rise in the weights, which makes life difficult, but one that she can overcome.
She is going up to three miles, which hasn't been kind to her in the past. But, given she is in winning form and the trainer had a winner with a progressive mare yesterday, I think you've got to trust them.
Military Academy 14/1 (0.5pt EW, 3pl) – Kempton 2.55
I don't understand why Military Academy is the price he is. I think he is the safest option for this race, as he is proven at this course and is a Class 1 winner, when most of the others aren't.
Devil's Advocate has done well in handicaps and wasn't given a true siting when being the pacemaker for his stablemate last time out. He is short enough based on what he's achieved, and the same can be said about Plage De Havre and Gethin. They are clearly more unexposed than my selection, but at double-figure odds, mine has to be the play.
Military Academy was poor last time out in a handicap, but he was a close third in a Group 3 the time before and was a Listed winner over 12f at this track in 2024. He's still only a five-year-old and hasn't been overly raced, so he can easily bounce back.
Secret Des Dieux 9/4 (2pt) – Plumpton 2.35
It could be foolish that I'm quite confident in Secret Des Dieux, as this is another step up in grade against some solid horses. The reason for my confidence is based on his last run, where I thought he ran a fantastic race and showed bags of pace.
If Edwardstone were to bounce back to form, he is the one to be wary of, but I think he is better over further at this stage of his career.
Secret Des Dieux is only six years of age and is progressing quite quickly. This track should be ideal for him, as he enjoyed the tight nature of Kempton, and this is also a track built for speedsters.
Planned Paradise 6/1 (1pt) – Plumpton 4.25
It could be the wrong time to back Planned Paradise on the back of two easy successes, but he's in great form, and there's no reason to believe Christian Williams can't get even more out of him.
I went against him two runs ago at Bangor, and it was clear as day that he was well ahead of the handicapper. He got another easy win at Hexham over four miles last time out, and the handicapper has whacked him up even further in the weights.
Because he's in such a rich vein of form, I am going to give him a chance, and Christian Williams has landed a couple of big chase races in recent times.
GambleAware