Naval Strike looming

Kevin Kemp stablemates looking to turn fortunes around at Clifford Park.

Apprentice Maddy Wishart returns to the Clifford Park winner's stall aboard Wirnpa.

RACING : Loyal punters will be looking for several Kevin Kemp runners to cash in on their consistent form when they chase overdue wins at Clifford Park tomorrow night.

Kemp lines up with five runners on the seven-race card including regular placegetters Bel Beau and Thumbs Up and lightly raced three-year-old Naval Strike.

Bel Beau takes on early favourite Maidenover in the Pakaderinga Feedlot Class 2 Plate (1210m) while Thumbs Up’s Bindare Beef Ratings Band 0-68 Handicap (1300m) rivals include stablemate Wiccan Rede.

Naval Strike will look to build on his improving form in the Women Of Lot Feeding QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1210m) with 2kg claimer Maddy Wishart to ride.

Naval Strike caught the eye last start with a late-closing third behind Chicago Bull in a midweek metropolitan maiden over 1200 metres at Clifford Park.

“His last run was good and I’m forgetting about his failure here before that when he got put out of the race early,” Kemp said.

“He looks to have his hoof on the till and if he can reproduce his run from the other day he should be hard to beat in a pretty open looking race.

“Bel Beau and Thumbs Up are two others of ours who are good eachway chances again.

“Bel Beau keeps turning in consistent runs and has the help of barrier one this week and Thumbs Up comes in with no weight after a claim for Madeleine Wishart.”

# COUNTRY racing returns to Gunsynd Park tomorrow where Goondiwindi Race Club hosts five races from 1.30pm.

# THE nation’s biggest betting operators have rallied behind this week’s ‘1 for the Bush’ fundraising campaign to assist drought-relief by agreeing to match Racing Queensland’s contribution dollar for dollar.

Earlier this week, RQ announced it would donate $1000 to the QCWA’s Public Rural Crisis Fund every time a runner carrying the number one saddlecloth wins a race across this weekend.

Following Monday’s announcement, Ladbrokes, Tabcorp, Sportsbet and BetEasy have all agreed to match RQ’s contribution, throwing their significant support behind the critical campaign.

Across thoroughbred, greyhound and harness racing, more than 120 races are scheduled to be held on Saturday and Sunday – this includes 68 TAB and non-TAB thoroughbred races, 34 greyhound races and 21 harness races.

In addition, the top-three place getters from the TAB Country Cups Challenge Final, which will be staged at Doomben on Saturday, will also be awarded $5000, $3000 and $2000 to donate to a rural charity of their choice.