18:10 Kempton

Wednesday 20 December 2017

All16:1016:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

ROA/Racing Post Owners' Jackpot Handicap

Off time: 18:13 | Winning time: 1m 37.13s

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Selected odds by:

(13)

Ice Royal¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 87| BF| D

15/2

A decisive winner over this trip at Chelmsford on his penultimate start earlier this month who possibly found the extra 2f too far when bidding to follow up under a penalty. Better over this trip, but drawn wide.

Form: 870515

(14)

Intimate Art¹⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Watson⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 85| C| D

11/1

Off the radar since late July, but returns to action back on synthetics (2 from 3 on Polytrack). 2lb higher than when an all out short-head winner over 1m at Chelmsford in mid Summer.

Form: 1-03016

(5)

Fighting Temeraire¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: D K Ivory| OR: 83

14/1

Well below par since winning at Newmarket in July 2016 (7f good), and hasn't looked the same horse since returning from a lengthy break in August 2017. Trip/surface also a concern, so looks firmly up against it.

Form: 65-0400

(2)

Chestnut Fire¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 82| D

10/1

On a fair mark on the strength of his very best AW form in Ireland (won a 1m Dundalk claimer for Mick Halford in February), but yet to fire on these shores for current connections.

Form: 403908

(8)

Golden Wedding^p⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 80| CD

7/1

His AW record isn't overly convincing (1 from 18), but he did finish second over C&D from a 2lb higher mark in August when beaten 2½L by Timeless Art. Could be involved.

Form: 724397

(10)

Eltezam¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Joey Haynes| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 80

5/1

Knocking firmly at the door lately, finishing second on two of his last three starts, including when beaten just ¾L by Tangramm over 1m2f at Chelmsford latest. Back to 1m off the same mark, so should be competitive.

Form: 348272

(6)

Dance Teacher¹²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L P Keniry| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 78

14/1

Hacked up when making all to score by 5L at Thirsk in August (7f maiden good). Has switched stables since then (ex Ralph Beckett), and goes back into handicap company for her AW/stable debut.

Form: 4-37621

(4)

Jumping Jack³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K Shoemark| T: C Gordon| OR: 77| C

20/1

Progressed over hurdles in recent months, and twice a runner up over 2m at this track in that sphere. Makes his first Flat start for this trainer (33,000 gns purchase from Richard Hughes in July). Has won over 7f here on the AW.

Form: 507126

(9)

Native Soldier^b1⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J L Flint| OR: 76| D

28/1

Poor since winning a 1m Newbury handicap on his final start for William Haggas in July (sold for 40,000 gns). Raced over hurdles latest, as new connections struggle to get him back to his best. Tapeta winner in 2016.

Form: 801400

(1)

Bluff Crag⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: S Donohoe| T: P J McBride| OR: 74| CD

33/1

Sprung a 25/1 shock when scoring for Richard Hughes over C&D in August. Remains 5lb above his last winning mark, and has moved on for 12,000 gns at the Newmarket sales last month. Stable debut.

Form: 001526

(7)

Lacan⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: L Morris| T: B R Johnson| OR: 74| CD

9/2

Skipped a Chelmsford option since winning snuggly over C&D in early November. Up 5lb, but has the assistance of the AW jockey of choice and looks well treated on the very best of his form from earlier in his career.

Form: 969951

(3)

Assanilka^p²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 74| CD

11/1

Ran a remarkable race when winning on debut over C&D in October 2016 (maiden fillies), but plenty of time has passed since then. Not offered a great deal overall, but slightly better during the month of October and on a fairer mark now.

Form: 789446

(12)

Medicean El Diablo²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: J C Fox| OR: 73| BF| CD

15/2

His form figures here since November 2016 read 1,2,1, and he won from a 4lb lower mark with some authority over C&D in mid October. More modest latest at Chelmsford, but you'd be a fool to dismiss him hastily back here.

Form: 1-36216

Non-Runners

(11)

Gentlemen⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 6

T: P S McEntee J: Danny Brock

Forecasts

Lacan (9/2), Eltezam (5/1), Golden Wedding (7/1), Ice Royal (15/2), Medicean El Diablo (15/2), Chestnut Fire (10/1), Assanilka (11/1), Intimate Art (11/1), Dance Teacher (14/1), Fighting Temeraire (14/1), Gentlemen (16/1), Jumping Jack (20/1), Native Soldier (28/1), Bluff Crag (33/1)

A tough puzzle to solve, so the simplest approach is probably just to nail the colours to the mast of one horse (at small stakes), and hope it's the right choice. Therefore, we plump for the Brett Johnson trained, Luke Morris ridden LACAN. He hasn't been rushed since scoring snugly over C&D in early November, and a subsequent rise of 5lb looks more than fair. He was a winner off a mark as high as 93 back in May 2015 for Marco Botti (currently rated 74), and whilst it would be stretching it too say that he has plenty in hand of the handicapper, he certainly has room for further upward progress. Of the others Dance Teacher is unexposed, whilst Golden Wedding would represent a sporting each-way shout at fairly rewarding odds.