Cast No Shadow runs for the Coral Racing Club this evening, in the 19:00 Class 4 Handicap over six furlongs at Kempton.

Read our Raceday LIVE preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and our lucky owners for the day across our social channels.

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Raceday LIVE Preview

Cast No Shadow makes his fifth start for the Coral Racing Club this evening, and his second since being given his opening handicap mark of 77. He was dropped two pounds after finishing a solid fourth in his handicap debut, and two of the horses that finished ahead of him have won since, demonstrating the quality of the opposition in that field last time out. 

Today marks the gelding's first run over six furlongs, having run his previous four races over five furlongs. Trainer Hugo Palmer said that the step up in trip was being considered after Cast No Shadow's penultimate run in his latest update, and that today's race at Kempton was a good opportunity for him.


Cast No Shadow on the gallops at Manor House Stables

Raceday message from Hugo Palmer

Cast No Shadow seems to be in a really good place, and we have all been very happy with him in the last couple of weeks. I am glad that we gave him the extra time to recover from his fourth start, and Hannah, his regular rider, has said that he seems to be in great form, which is great.

He’s running over six furlongs for the first time, but the way he finishes his races over five furlongs suggests this step up in trip will suit him.

He is drawn in the middle of a relatively small field of eight, and looks to go to Kempton with a decent chance, in what is a competitive, open race. I hope there will be a decent pace, and we should be able to sit just off that early speed.

In terms of his rivals, there are previous winners in the race, but nothing with standout form, so let’s hope Cast No Shadow can do himself justice.

Prize money

Today's Class 5 contest is worth £12,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop £6,281 for their lucky owners.

2nd place: £2,947 | 3rd place: £1,472 | 4th place: £737 | 5th place: £367

As part of the Owner for the Day competitions we launch here on the Coral Racing Club website once one of the club's horses has been entered in a race, each of the 10 lucky winners who get the chance to attend as an owner also get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won.

Trainer and jockey form

Hugo Palmer has been relatively quiet recently, only recording one winner and three places in the last two weeks (thirteen runners). He did find success with three-year-olds on the all-weather in 2023, recording 107 winners from 711 runs at a strike rate of 15%. 

David Probert rides Cast No Shadow this evening, after ending 2023 on a high with two winners at Lingfield on New Year's Eve, including a fine victory onboard our very own Rockstar Icon. He'll be hoping to keep his form up tonight, and ride a second winner for the Coral Racing Club in less than seven days.

Racing Post Spotlight Comment on Cast No Shadow

"Fighting chance provided his best 5f form is transferred to this new trip."

Today's opposition

• Engineer for Clive Cox and Rossa Ryan has impressed in his three runs to date. He finished third on debut in a Class 2 Novice race at Kempton, before scoring on his second time out in a Class 5 contest at Wolverhampton. He was last seen in November finishing a solid second over course and distance and was given an opening mark of 80 following that. 
• Last year's Champion Apprentice Jockey, Billy Loughnane, takes the reins on Bulldog Drummond, who got off the mark at the 10th time of asking over this distance last time out. He was raised five pounds for that victory and runs off of 77 today.
• Ippotheos is another former distance winner lining up in this evening's contest, winning two starts ago at Wolverhampton at the start of December. He was the beaten favourite in his last contest, finishing a disappointing fourth of seven. Joe Leavy rides him today, taking seven pounds off the gelding's back. 

   19:00 KEMPTON – LATEST BETTING HERE   

Thanks for reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 19:00 to watch Cast No Shadow's next run for the club.