Boom Or Bust? Tom Collins judges Saturday’s all-weather market leaders

British weather can be brutal at times. With heavy rain and gusty winds hitting the isles this week, Sandown officials were forced to abandon their featured card on Saturday and there’s a good chance that Wincanton will follow suit.

Punters are left with a pretty threadbare and bleak afternoon of racing as a result, but all-weather tracks allow us to enjoy the sport we love when conditions are at their worst and evening cards at Southwell and Kempton will go ahead as planned.

Below I have written an assessment about five likely market leaders at the aforementioned venues this weekend and applied a ‘boom’ or ‘bust’ tag to indicate whether they are likely winners or not. Let’s get into it.

5.30pm Southwell - 5f handicap

Horse: Billy Webster 13/8

This son of Group 1-winning sprinter Profitable overcame a tardy start to score on debut at Pontefract in the spring, but something may have gone amiss in the weeks following as he had an enforced 174-day layoff. He didn’t stay six furlongs on soft ground at Goodwood on his return, but he made amends with a visually impressive victory over the minimum trip at Wolverhampton last time. This track should suit him and he will get a lovely tow into the race.

Boom or Bust: Boom

5.45pm Kempton - 6f maiden

Horse: Fire Demon 1/1

Backing horses who were readily beaten at a short price last time isn’t my idea of a good ploy, so Fire Demon doesn’t exactly appeal after holding no apparent excuses for crossing the line in third at 8/11 last time out. He seems to be pretty one paced and, for all that Juddmonte homebreds shouldn’t ever be dismissed, this drop in trip is another reason why I’d prefer to back a rival like Tourist.

Boom or Bust: Bust

6.15pm Kempton - 7f novice

Horse: Lessay 3/4

There is a distinct lack of depth in this contest and it looks a good opportunity for Lessay to add to his maiden success over this course and distance. Andrew Balding’s three-year-old beat a couple of relatively nice prospects that day and improvement is expected with young horses from his stable. Unless one of his unraced opponents boasts above average talent, Lessay is highly likely to remain unbeaten.

Boom or Bust: Boom

6.45pm Kempton - 1m handicap

Horse: Top Secret 12/5

Top Secret impressed with a late burst to win his recent start at Kempton. He challenged towards the far side at the cutaway, which isn’t usually the place you want to be, and asserted late to take his course record to three wins from five starts. The handicapper has punished him with a 6lb rise, which takes him up to a career-high mark. Although he can win again, I’m always dubious that Top Secret can string too good runs together and I have to oppose at the prices.

Boom or Bust: Bust

7.00pm Southwell - 7f fillies’ handicap

Horse: Storymaker 7/2

Seeking a hat-trick after all-weather wins at Wolverhampton and Lingfield, Storymaker is the obvious choice in this 0-75 contest under Tommie Jakes. This filly took 15 runs to finally win a race and, although her recent form figures suggest she’s turned a corner, it’s worth noting that she had a pretty good trip through the contest last time and may have been slightly flattered. Sixties Chic, who finished third, was always pitched wide that day and may reverse the form.

Boom or Bust: Bust