Kilmore Betting Tips for November 26, 2023 - Lord To Take Cup

The gelding showed plenty of ability in four starts for the Matt Cumani stable, ending his time with the handler with a second over 1000m in a maiden at Casterton in October last year.

While absent for nearly a year following that effort, the pick delivered a good second in a 1000m contest on the synthetic track at Pakenham when racing first-up for handler Adrian McGregor.

The five-year-old raced from off the pace before keeping on nicely in the style of a horse who would appreciate the step up in distance he got when third over 1100m at Sale subsequently.

A change of tactics saw the selection race from the front from a wide barrier when beaten just under two lengths in a race that suited those racing from off the pace and an inside alley is a positive here; he looks like value to break his maiden at the seventh attempt. 

Trained by David & Coral Feek, the gelding has shown a liking for this venue in the past including winning two of his three starts here.

All three of those efforts have come in 2023 with the sole defeat coming when beaten less than half-a-length into third in an 1100m Benchmark 58 handicap on a good 4 track here last month.

The five-year-old went on to make all the running over 1212m to record a victory by over four lengths when tackling an eleven-runner contest.

The selection is tactically versatile which should prove a help from barrier seven here while the step up in trip here is no issue having won over track and trip back in March. 

The forecast underfoot conditions are in the gelding's favour and he looks ready for this return to Benchmark 64 company. 

The pace situation is an interesting one here with Ascension, Keats and Golden Crusader all likely to want to go forwards from the barriers and with that in mind, this may well be set up for a closer with Michael Hickmott’s gelding fitting in the bill in that regard. 

The seven-year-old resumed with an easy victory in a 1250m Benchmark 82 handicap on a soft 5 track at Morphettville Parks in September.

While unable to score since, he has delivered some eyecatching efforts including when third over 1600m when finishing strongly from off the pace in the Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup.

The gelding was ridden closer to the speed when beaten less than two lengths in finishing ninth dropped to 1400m in the Group 2 Damien Oliver at Flemington earlier this month.

The quick back-up was possibly against him in the Furphy Plate there subsequently and he is taken to deliver his eighth career win. 

The mare registered two victories from four outings in her last spell including when successful at this Benchmark 64 level at Ararat in March.

The five-year-old resumed with a good third, beaten less than half-a-length over this trip in a Benchmark 64 handicap for fillies & mares at Kyneton on October 12.

The step up to metro level proved too much even racing off a low weight when tackling a Benchmark 90 event over 1400m at Flemington and the switch to country racing is in her favour here. 

The pick met trouble in running at Flemington with the blinkers, not worn since an eighth at Ballarat Synthetic in July last year returning here.

They are expected to sharpen the mare up and with a good barrier two off the rail she looks capable of registering her first win of the campaign.