Fran Berry column ahead of weekend rides at Newbury and Kempton

It was nice to ride another winner in the week with Cristal Spirit for William Haggas at Kempton. He's in the sales next week so it was job done and he's got a good attitude.

It's just a shame I couldn't add to the tally as Naas over the weekend as I met Ian Wright on the flight over there and told him I was riding a favourite, Tudor City.

The horse ran really well, finishing a close third behind a Joseph O'Brien-trained three-year-old, but that's wasn't much consolation for Wright's Instagram followers after he posted on his account!

So I may have a large following of disgruntled Arsenal fans as a result...

Moving on swiftly and I've a busy few days with a double header of Newbury and Kempton on Friday and Saturday.

I kick off at Newbury with a couple of first time out two-year-olds and I'd imagine Dominus and Mostawaa will both come on for the experience.

Solar Echo looks a good ride to have picked up for Martyn Meade as she was a winner at Sandown in August and backed that up with a fair third on the July Course at Newmarket. She was a bit below that level at Ffos Las last time but a return to those earlier efforts would give her a chance in the Oakley Coachbuilders Fillies' Handicap.

Swordbill has a bit to find on the bare figures in the British EBF Conditions Stakes but hopefully the switch to turf could spark a bit more improvement. He's still very much an unexposed horse and has had a fantastic year already, rattling off three all-weather handicap wins in September.

He'll stay every yard of this trip, has had a month off to freshen up and his breeding suggests he'll be happy back on turf.

Keeper's Choice goes in the West Berkshire Racing Club Handicap and I won on her at Sandown last month. Things didn't go her way at Newmarket last time but the ground was lively enough and she's got a live each-way chance if back on track.

Outback Traveller has lost his way a bit and looks one to watch in the Physicool Handicap - it's his first run for another new yard and I'd just be wary until seeking a bit more from him.

Onto Kempton on Friday evening and Verve makes her third outing in the 32Red Casino Novice Median Auction Stakes. I've sat on her at homer a few times and I thought her first run last September was quite promising.

She looked like she needed it on her return from nearly a year off at Leicester recently, just tiring towards the finish, and she worked well the other morning. Dropping back to six furlongs looks a great move and this also represents a slight ease in class. She should be involved.

I rode Hold Still on his second outing and get back on for the 32Red On The App Store Nursery Handicap which looks a winnable race. Time will tell whether his initial mark of 73 is a bit high but he's a son of Bated Breath and looks to be getting the hang of things as he goes.

Syrian Pearl is obviously more exposed but she's capable on her day and back on a fair mark for the 32Red Fillies' Handicap. She showed as much when a close fourth of 14 at Nottingham last time - a race she'd won in 2017 - and she looks ready for the step back up to seven furlongs at this stage of her career.

Celtik Secret has her second start after a wind op in the Wise Betting At racinguk.com Handicap and I'm not sure we can expect a huge amount after her comeback effort.

Sporting Life Racing Podcast! Click on the image below to get all the fallout from Champions Day plus a looks ahead to the weekend's action...

At Newbury on Saturday I'm on a couple of two-year-olds in the twice-raced Poet's Magic and Monogamy first time out for Martyn Meade. They're both by Poet's Voice and the latter is a filly out of a Green Desert mare and is half-sister to a couple of winners.

It's great to be back on Lihou in the Sir Gerald Whent Memorial Nursery Handicap after he ran a huge race in the valuable sales race at Newmarket. The handicapper left him alone for that effort and he's got to be in with another live shout.

It's Good to Soft at the time of writing and more rain would be welcome but he'll be absolutely fine if it dries out to be Good on the day.

Contrapposto goes in a first time visor in the Georgie Busher 90th Birthday Handicap and is a watchingg brief for now following a disappointing run at Haydock. It was very heavy that day and it's hoped getting back on slightly better ground might be a plus.

Star Command needs a big step up at Kempton on Saturday to play a part in the 32Red On The App Store Fillies' Novice Stakes, while Feel The Noize goes into the Bet At racinguk.com Nursery Handicap with a bit of improvement to find.

Misty Birnam would have a squeak down to a mark of 75 in the 32Red.com Handicap and I sign off on Saturday with Past Master in the 100% Profit Boost At 32Redsport.com Handicap.

He's been good to me this year and it was a shame I missed him last time when he won at Salisbury. He did it nicely there and he's seemingly held his form well. There's every chanc e he has more to offer and he's got some all-weather form to his name so should be fine switching back to Polytrack.

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