21:10 Kempton

Wednesday 4 October 2017

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:4021:10

Darren Ward 50th Birthday Handicap

Off time: 21:12 | Winning time: 3m 31.77s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Paris Bound^p1¹⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Jason Watson⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 60| BF

10/1

Has shown a slight improvement since upped in trip on the Fibresand at Southwell. Beaten 4½L on his handicap debut latest (1m6f), but isn't the most straightforward of characters hence the application of first time cheek-pieces.

Form: 5522

(4)

Royal Battalion^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: H Crouch⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 60

25/1

Hasn't raced on the Flat since June 2016 (or on the AW since January 2015) having been kept exclusively to hurdles. Difficult to know exactly what to expect from him, but the suspicion is that he'll be found wanting.

Form: 2344/87-

(6)

The Way You Dance^v1¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: R Winston| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 60| D

14/1

Has won twice over hurdles since registering a pair of 1m1f+ Wolverhampton successes, so he shouldn't be unduly troubled by this trip. That said, he needs to better his latest run (over 1m4f at Wolverhampton) now fitted with the first time visor.

Form: 2/19-830

(11)

See And Be Seen^p⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Mitch Godwin⁽⁵⁾| T: S Kirk| OR: 58| CD

33/1

C&D winner who was a runner up from a 5lb higher mark here in June (beaten 3¾L by Golly Miss Molly). However much less sharp since then, and finished a tailed off 11th of 13 to Alternate Route at Lingfield (2m) latest.

Form: 844790

(8)

Ivanhoe¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: S J Drowne| T: M Blanshard| OR: 58| D

25/1

Infrequent winner, but unexposed on the AW (just the sole start). Finished runner up on his latest start, but that was when beaten 10L by Master Dancer in a 2m class 6 handicap at Chepstow.

Form: 554992

(7)

Intimidator²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J Ellis| OR: 57

10/1

A nine race maiden, but with plenty of experience of this C&D. Twice a runner up here in races split over 12 months apart, and capable of being on the premises at his best, but has weakened rather tamely the past twice.

Form: 423-257

(9)

Wintour Leap^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: William Cox⁽⁷⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 56| D

33/1

Has C&D form closely aligned with Intimidator (January 2017), but hasn't looked overly sharp since then, including when well behind Ivanhoe at Chepstow latest. A career record of 1 from 22 isn't the most inspiring.

Form: 48/6377

(13)

Treble Strike^b1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: T P Queally| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 56

33/1

A 12 race maiden who has fallen 9lb in the weights since switched to handicaps. However, has offered little promise of late and disconcerting to see the blinkers now applied for the first time.

Form: 636858

(10)

Island Authority³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Aaron Jones⁽³⁾| T: E Stanford| OR: 56

50/1

Sold for 4,000 gns in October 2015 after making four unsuccessful starts for Ed Dunlop. Off the track for over two years until returning here in August (1m4f), and is now upped in trip having been dropped a further 3lb.

Form: 0575/5

(1)

The Last Melon²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Racheal Kneller⁽⁵⁾| T: J Bennett| OR: 55

12/1

A nine race maiden under all codes, and was beaten almost 5L by Hussar Ballad despite finishing third on his handicap debut at Wolverhampton last month (1m4f). Improvement required over this longer trip.

Form: 9653

(3)

Mizen Master^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: O Murphy| OR: 55

11/8

Thrived for his new yard over hurdles, winning twice on decent ground at Stratford and Market Rasen. However, carrying penalties has caught up with him and he was only third at Kelso latest. Lowly rated on the Flat and could take full advantage.

Form: 570/57-

(5)

St Andrews^v1⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: Ian Williams| OR: 51

7/2

Has had 17 attempts to shed the maiden tag, but has been unable to do so, finishing a runner up on three occasions. No match for the improving Alternate Route at Lingfield (2m) last week, he's turned out quickly wearing a first time visor.

Form: 242582

(12)

Briac⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Pattinson| OR: 50| CD

20/1

A dual winner at this track in March (including over C&D), but hasn't offered all that much in the way of progression since then. Whilst this contest isn't the strongest, he needs to recapture his best form if to be involved.

Form: 040036

(14)

Ocean Gale²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 50

16/1

Ran out a ready winner of a 1m6f Salisbury handicap in early August (Briac 4½L third), but hasn't quite been able to repeat that form since, without being totally disgraced. Just 3lb higher switched to the AW for the first time in a moderate heat.

Form: 434134

Forecasts

Mizen Master (11/8), St Andrews (7/2), Paris Bound (10/1), Intimidator (10/1), The Last Melon (12/1), The Way You Dance (14/1), Ocean Gale (16/1), Briac (20/1), Royal Battalion (25/1), Ivanhoe (25/1), Wintour Leap (33/1), Treble Strike (33/1), See And Be Seen (33/1), Island Authority (50/1)

A poor finale, which features an unconvincing bunch, many of whom are sporting various forms of headgear for the first time. MIZEN MASTER is the stand out performer in the line up having improved massively over hurdles since switched to the care of Olly Murphy. Whilst he was no match for Sweet Holly under a double penalty at Kelso last month, he's now rated 127 over hurdles, so there's every likelihood that he's thrown in from this mark of just 55 on the Flat, with his previous moderate form on the level coming in Ireland for John Joseph Murphy.