14:55 Kempton

Friday 7 February 2020

All13:2013:5014:2514:5515:3016:0016:30

racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 28.0s

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Selected odds by:

Kauto The King^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 112| BF

9/1

Fair form in bumpers and over hurdles but remains a maiden and one who has had plenty of chances to register a success. Not one to trust in the long run and other much preferred.

Form: 62-275P

Royal Ruby²³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 112

9/1

Made all when winning his only hurdle so far in a Bangor handicap (October 2018). Lightly-raced since then he was done in trip and ridden with more restraint last time but that failed to spark a revival; returns to his usual distance.

Form: 3513-55

El Kaldoun²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Joe Anderson⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 112| BF

8/1

Disappointed last time although he did race on the worst of the track with his jumping rather letting him down at vital stages. Had shown more than that previously but has the look of a frustrating sort who could flatter again.

Form: 476-526

Invincible Cave^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 110

33/1

Hard to trust despite having shown some good form in the past in Ireland with Gordon Elliott. Did show signs of life for this yard on his penultimate start but soon reverted to his quirky self when last seen at Plumpton.

Form: 5P0949

Airton^t,v³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 109| BF

11/1

Made a winning start over hurdles last February having been useful but exposed on the Flat. Failed to win since; dropped into selling grade last time (shaped well over inadequate trip) he looks well handicapped if he can cope with this class.

Form: 585F62

Imperial Elysian^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 106

4/1

From a yard having superb season he got back on the up having fallen over fences the time before with a win at Huntingdon off a 4lb lower mark. Didn't have the clearest of runs there and sure to be involved again; on the shortlist.

Form: 534-6F1

Mead Vale^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 106| BF

8/1

Successful at Taunton off a 2lb lower mark last season he looks to be gradually working his way back to form highlighted by his good third at the same track (2m) last time. Well handicapped he'll be well suited by this step up in trip.

Form: 7BFU53

Another Tuco²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 106

10/1

Hasn't shown a great deal of promise so far but is a winning Irish point-to-pointer and his three hurdles runs have come in some decent company. Now goes into handicaps and will have a lot better chance in this sphere.

Form: 6F-1595

Vital Sign²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Aspell| T: R Rowe| OR: 105

50/1

Modest form at best so far over hurdles although he had little chance to get competitive in a decent but slowly-run Ascot novice last time. Now makes the first step into handicaps and not hard to see him making more impact.

Form: 22-5947

Certainly Red⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 105

25/1

Could be given an excellent chance on his initial bumper run (second to one Cheltenham Festival bound) but he's yet to match that form over hurdles. Makes his handicap debut and may yet do a little better in time.

Form: 2-9045

Dollnamix⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 103

14/1

Struggling to find the form that saw him rack up three handicap hurdle seconds last season over various trips. Neither of his starts this season have given any cause for optimism and he's best watched for the moment.

Form: 22F2-06

One For Dunstan⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: H Cobden| T: R Walford| OR: 97

6/1

Runner-up on his sole point-to-point start he's likely to have been brought along with tests like this in mind via his novice hurdles over shorter. Likely to be suited by this test and handicaps he's in good hands; note market support.

Form: 2-609

Episode⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 94WS

16/1

Back from a wind op she rather looked to have rather lost her way prior to the recent procedure. Needs to be seen to rediscover some form before she could be supported.

Form: 3/43-P5P

Minella Rising¹⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Matthew Batchelor| T: C Poulton| OR: 91

100/1

Stable debut having shown little since he's gone handicapping for Polly Gundry. Sold from her yard for £1,800 in November little can be expected on the evidence so far.

Form: P662P0

Maasai Warrior²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: P Henderson| OR: 90

33/1

Showed some promise during his qualifying runs for a handicap mark but ultimately was dealt a harsh rating. Needs his mark to drop further if he's to make an impact in this sphere especially with his yard very quiet.

Form: 3-768P0

Affaire D'Honneur³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 87

10/1

Last win came in a Worcester seller and that sums this sort out who looks to struggle in open handicaps. Often held back by his attitude and not one to get involved with here.

Form: 665-868

Non-Runners

Persian Delight⁷⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 10

T: Miss C Dyson J: Brendan Powell

Eva's Diva³⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: P W Middleton J: Mr S Lee

Huccaby¹⁸

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Imperial Elysian (4/1), Eva's Diva (5/1), One For Dunstan (6/1), Mead Vale (8/1), El Kaldoun (8/1), Kauto The King (9/1), Royal Ruby (9/1), Affaire D'Honneur (10/1), Another Tuco (10/1), Airton (11/1), Dollnamix (14/1), Episode (16/1), Certainly Red (25/1), Maasai Warrior (33/1), Invincible Cave (33/1), Vital Sign (50/1), Huccaby (50/1), Persian Delight (66/1), Minella Rising (100/1)

An open handicap with plenty making their first start in a handicap along with a few others who will appreciate the extra distance. IMPERIAL ELYSIAN comes from a yard that can do little wrong this season and having won cosily at Huntingdon recently he’s taken to follow up off just a 4lb higher mark. Airton if he can cope with the return to this grade will appreciate this trip as will Mead Vale who ran a sound race last time and looks to be on his way back. Of the handicap newcomers Another Tuco and Vital Sign take the eye although the most interesting of that group would be One For Dunstan his pedigree is all stamina and with a mark gained over 2m he may well be well weighted in this.