15:45 Kempton

Monday 14 May 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:50

Matchbook Is Commission Free Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 5m 5.25s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Bertie Barnes¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R T Phillips| OR: 110| CD

13/2

On a hat-trick mission having been particularly impressive when coasting in at Towcester recently. 10lb rise makes life harder, but he did look a step or two ahead of the handicapper and should go close once again.

Form:

Inspireus⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 110

20/1

Beaten quite a long way in each of his three starts in novice hurdles and looks to have his fair share of weight for this handicap debut. Needs to step his game up and others make more appeal.

Form:

Miss Adventure^t1⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Conor Shoemark| T: P W Middleton| OR: 108

10/1

Dropping down the weights and has run some fair races at around two miles. Not certain this longer trip is within her compass but the first time tongue-tie may help the cause and a good show is not ruled out by any means.

Form:

Farmer Boy⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: N J Hawke| OR: 107

25/1

Not much to crow about in four starts so far and lost place quickly at Huntingdon after 3 out last time in a maiden hurdle. Hopes rest on the quicker ground bringing about improvement but others make far more appeal.

Form:

Cheltenam De Vaige¹⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 105| BF

9/4

Went close on both starts in handicap hurldes in the autumn and returns now from a six-month break off a 5lb higher mark. Connections may well have saved him for this quicker ground so looks a contender assuming he's fit and ready to go.

Form:

Goldslinger²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: A Glassonbury| T: G & J Moore| OR: 100

9/2

Wasn't winning out of turn when justifying favouritism at Newton Abbot last month over 2m3f. Extra trip shouldn't harm and he may be a contender despite an 8lb hike in the wieghts.

Form:

Kaddys Dream⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin| OR: 96

10/1

10-race maiden whow as running a fair race when coming down at the 9th in three-mile handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter recently. Too early to say how he would have fared but runs off same mark and is not without hope.

Form:

Zoltan Varga²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 94| BF

11/2

Fairly consistent handicapper but keeps finding a few too good. Top conditional jockey rides and 3lb claim will help, as too may the better ground anticipated here. Stable remains in very good form.

Form:

Celma Des Bois²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 86

9/1

Nine races without success thus far and looked a tricky ride at Fontwell last month when runnng with credit to finish third over this trip. 1lb lower now but may still need a little more help from the handicapper.

Form:

Forecasts

Cheltenam De Vaige (9/4), Goldslinger (9/2), Zoltan Varga (11/2), Bertie Barnes (13/2), Celma Des Bois (9/1), Kaddys Dream (10/1), Miss Adventure (10/1), Inspireus (20/1), Farmer Boy (25/1)

A 10lb rise in the weights may not be enough to stop Richard Phillips' BERTIE BARNES who has been in fine form of late and has a very good opporutnity to complete a hat-trick. Cheltenam De Vaige returns from a break and could go well fresh on this surface, while Zoltan Varga and Miss Adventure should be thereabouts as well. Gold Slinger comes here in form and is another who warrants respect.