Soft Ground Colud be Key For Abyaat

It was a very disappointing effort from Rock On Lilly earlier at Thurles and she failed miserably to build on the promise she showed on her previous run. She seemecd to be in a good position for most of the race, but when push came to shove she went out like a light and she looks best left alone until showing a bit more on the track.

As the majority of yards have put their star turns away with Cheltenham fast approaching the quality of racing is below the usual Friday standard. There is jumps action at Kempton and Wetherby and the horse I am interested in goes at the former track in the opening 2m conditional handicap hurdle (2m).

Victor Dartnall's Abyaat, who has a decent flat pedigree, failed to pull up any trees on the level for the Hannon yard. However, his sole win came on soft ground in a handicap at Chepstow over 10f off a mark of just 62, and he again ran well when 2nd at Nottingham over the same distance, again on soft, off a mark of 67 back in November.

He showed an aptitude for hurdling when going close on his 2nd start over timber in a novice up in Perth (3rd home who Abyaat beat by 11L hacked up for Sandy Thomson last weekend off 107) and Abyaat made his handicap hurdle debut off a mark of 114 on good ground at Taunton when he was well beaten. He was kept to the same course and distance on his last two runs, and after his mark fell to 102 he showed clear signs of life when 3rd to Canadian Diamond at 25/1 last time out, beaten 5l on good to soft ground.

He has been raised a pound for that run to a mark of 103, but that is offset by useful claimer David Prichard, who takes off a handy 6lb. Prichard is 1/1 for Dartnall and his claim could prove crucial. Going by his flat form Abyaat has a clear preference for soft ground, and once it doesn't dry out at Kempton this will be his first handicap run with proper cut.

He proved on his last run that he is not a lost cause and at his current odds of 14/1 he looks worthy of a small e/w bet off an effective mark of just 97. The form of the Dartnall yard is a big worry so stakes should be kept to a minimum for this one, but if he shows his true colours back on his favoured surface I think he can hit the frame.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 1.05 KEMPTON-ABYAAT E/W 14/1