Horse racing tips: Monday picks from Ross Millar

Our columnist Ross Millar is off to a winning start with his Monday tips after a facile success for Destroytheevidence (6-5F) at Kempton.

What a racing cocktail we were served up on Saturday, with timely reminders that you don’t necessarily require large fields for compelling racing and that horses have minds of their own. There is never such a thing as a 'certainty' in racing.

In Ireland, State Man proved his wellbeing with a convincing win in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle, and it was nice to hear Willie Mullins in bullish form afterwards stating they would try not to let Constitution Hill have it all his own way this year.

Earlier on the card, Gaelic Warrior made a flawless chasing debut despite racing with the choke out in the early stages. He did lurch at four from home when a bit long, but his jumping was assured and I loved how measured he was over the last three fences when Paul Townend took advantage of a mammoth lead to educate his mount up the home straight. While he’s clearly a better horse right-handed, it would be a braver man than me that opposes him wherever he turns up next.

In England, the Ditcheat decision to send stable jockey Harry Cobden to Ascot rather than partnering Bravemansgame at Haydock paid dividends. Cobden rode four winners on Saturday, headlined by Pic D’Ohry in the 1965 Chase with his task made all the more straightforward when Shishkin failed to jump off in his first-time cheekpieces.

The Betfair Chase went the way of Haydock specialist Royale Pagaille. The winning rider and tactically astute Charlie Deutsch engaged Bravemansgame exiting the back straight in an aggressive move which proved decisive as the suspect stamina of the Gold Cup runner-up saw him come out second best.

Sunday saw the return of Gold Cup champion Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan Chase, but it was Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow who again lowered his colours in a dash for the line with a seemingly rejuvenated Appreciate It splitting the pair. How exciting that this could be the first in a sequence of clashes between these two throughout the season – exactly what racing needs.

3.05 Kempton: The Lasthighking

Nigel Twiston-Davies continues to have his team in fine form, with the stable ticking along at a current strike rate of 29 per cent.

Thelasthighking ran a fine race when second at this track over 2m2f on his last start. The winner on that occasion was Corrigeen Rock, who finished a close-up fourth in a valuable handicap chase when dropped in trip at Ascot on Saturday.

At Kempton, the pair of them pulled a long way clear of the third and, while Thelasthighking was essentially outstayed, I have no concern about this extra trip.

I expect Jordan Nailor to ride him patiently before striking up the home straight and the seven-year-old can continue his trainer’s fine run of form.

2.00 Kempton: Destroytheevidence

Now back up to three miles and on a track where he has proven form, I think he will take plenty of stopping.

I was really impressed by what Destroytheevidence was able to do on his last start at this track last time given that the 2m5f trip was almost certainly short of his optimum distance. Under a typically positive ride from David Bass, he pinged his hurdles and galloped his rivals into submission having had the race firmly in the bag before the home straight.

The runner-up there Monks Meadow has run well in defeat since and has been allocated an opening mark of 109. Given Destroytheevidence gave that rival 7lb and a comfortable 15 length beating, I think his own opening mark of just 122 can be considered lenient. That assessment is backed up by his 10-length defeat of the 121-rated Huelgoat at Worcester in May.

Destroytheevidence was below that level when a well-beaten second behind Butch in October, but that was his seasonal return and as a result I’m prepared to overlook it.

2.35 Kempton: Kateira

She’s some way clear on ratings and should land this with the minimum of fuss.

It’s been a common theme in the early part of the season that the Dan Skelton horses appear to be needing their first run of the season and that certainly looked to be the case with Kateira last time, who could only manage a rather laboured third on her seasonal reappearance at Wetherby.

She now steps up a full mile in trip as she tackles three miles for the first time and she comfortably has the best single piece of form in this race when second behind Irish Point at Aintree in April. That was a fine run - staying on powerfully having been settled at the rear of the field - and the winner has boosted that form by since winning a Grade Three.

Given how well Kateira saw out the 2m4f trip at Aintree, I’m confident this extra distance can bring about further improvement.