Ratings Update: Dathanna and Kings Shield impress at Kempton

This week’s Ratings Update is short and sweet – unlike the wet weather which has decimated racing on turf over the past week. Groundstaff at Fakenham, Kelso and Uttoxeter did well to get their meetings to go ahead on Saturday, though the fare was pretty ordinary at all three venues, with the testing ground leading to many a slow-motion finish.

Runner-up War Sound (134 from 130+) shaped better than Ballyarthur (131) in the novices’ handicap chase at Uttoxeter, while Fred Winter ninth Act of Valour (remains on 132) and Coral Cup also-ran Le Breuil (up 5 lb to 140) both bounced back to form to win at Fakenham. Up at Kelso, ACDC (up 8 lb to 124) got back in the black by shamelessly beating a Sue Smith-trained favourite in the Sue and Harvey Smith Chase, but the Smiths weren’t miserable for long, as their Smooth Stepper (up 9 lb to 143) lasted home better than Baywing (now 149x) when producing a career-best performance in the valuable staying handicap chase.

Some fine jumping from Smooth Stepper lands him the
Liz Adam Memorial Handicap Chase at Kelso

Results ▶️ https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/a5ly4N7MG8

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) April 7, 2018

Smith also had reason to celebrate on Sunday, as Cracking Find (up 2lb to 125) got the better of two other last-time-out winners when landing an interesting novice handicap at Carlisle. Down at Exeter, a win for Show On The Road (up 5 lb to 128) continued the recent uplift in form for Philip Hobbs – it’s worth paying close attention to his runners this week.

On the Flat, there was more French success following their domination of Lingfield’s All-Weather Championships, as Hunaina (remains on 109) – tipped up by John Ingles earlier in the week - took advantage of Smart Call (remains on 114) being nowhere near her best, and confirmed herself clearly an improved performer this year, at least on synthetics. She is likely to switch back to turf next time, which will require her to confirm she's improved on that surface as well.

Another French-trained winner on the all-weather as Henri Devin's Hunaina takes the Betfred "Home Of Goals Galore" Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes at Kempton

Results ▶️ https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/KaYo05s5MH

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) April 7, 2018

Elsewhere on the card, Lihou (up 11 lb to 87p) won the opening novice contest. This looked a good renewal on paper, judged on pedigree and stables, with a rare maximum field too, and it's likely to throw up a winner or two, the majority of the newcomers shaping with promise, even though experience won the day. Fifth home Disruptor (70P) may well prove the best of these in time, very much catching the eye under a considerate introduction.

Dathanna (up 20 lb to 109p) produced one of the performances of the day in a conditions race which looked tricky to weigh up beforehand. All four fillies had been off since last year, three of them making their all-weather debut, two of them having shown their best form in France, but it produced a clearcut winner, the favourite hacking up. She doesn’t have any fancies entries at present, but looks the type to go on improving.

Kings Shield (up to 98p) won the other one-mile conditions event, putting himself firmly on target for a crack at one of the 2,000 Guineas – the French version most likely. He was a bit coltish and edgy beforehand, sweating up at the start, though none of that impacted on his performance. Runner-up One Cool Daddy (up 16 lb to 93p) was much improved from debut, given a good ride, just outclassed by the winner late on; he's an athletic sort with a good pedigree and is likely to progress again.

John Gosden says Kempton winner Kings Shield is "more likely" to be aimed towards the French Guineas with the same connections' Roaring Lion on track for Newmarket

Results ▶️ https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/UaUkNKliHk

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) April 7, 2018

The best performance on the clock came from A Momentofmadness (108 performance rating, 106 timefigure) who made all in the 5f handicap. He proved better than ever, seen to maximum effect, last into the stalls and getting the desired flyer from stall 1. He failed to win again after victory in last year's running of the same race and isn't likely to look obviously well treated back in top turf handicaps once reassessed.