17:05 Kempton

Wednesday 8 March 2023

All15:0515:3516:0516:3517:0517:35

Extra Place Races Throughout Cheltenham Handicap

Off time: 17:11 | Winning time: 3m 31.75s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Duty Of Care⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: S W Kelly| T: J A Osborne| OR: 87| CD

9/4

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap (7/1) at this C&D, suited by increase in trip. Off 98 days. Shortlist material given he's unexposed as a stayer.

Form: 15/0561-

(7)

Diamond Bay¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: D Tudhope| T: T Ward| OR: 87| C| D

10/3

Course winner. 8/1, below form sixth of 10 in handicap at Lingfield (12f, AW) 18 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Enters calculations given he should be spot on fitness-wise now.

Form: 43126-6

(5)

Grandmaster Flash^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Rhys Clutterbuck| T: G & J Moore| OR: 85| D

50/1

First run since leaving Joseph Patrick O'Brien when ninth of 10 in handicap (100/1) at Lingfield (12f, AW) 18 days ago. Significantly back up in trip and needs to leave that run well behind.

Form: 2098-59

(9)

Oman^v¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85

28/1

First run since leaving Alan King when last of 10 in handicap at Lingfield (12f, AW, 66/1) 18 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Not easy to make a case for on the back of that heavy defeat but Murphy is booked.

Form: 5/287-50

(10)

Blazeon Five²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: R A Teal| OR: 82| BF| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Three wins from 6 runs last year. Good second of 6 in handicap at Wolverhampton (16.6f, 11/10) 29 days ago, collared close home. Likeable type.

Form: 3111-22

(11)

Pons Aelius⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Joanna Mason| T: C Johnston| OR: 83| CD

5/1

Career best when winning 13-runner handicap (17/2) at this C&D, well positioned. Off 91 days. 3 lb rise still leaves him competitive.

Form: 320341-

(8)

First Emperor^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: J Ryan| OR: 82| CD

8/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in January. Second of 4 in handicap (11/4) at Newcastle (16.2f) 14 days ago. Clearly in top form.

Form: 30-7112

(6)

Smart Champion^h¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: K Shoemark| T: D M Simcock| OR: 79| CD

18/1

C&D winner. Two wins from 6 runs last year. Latest win here in September. 16/5, good second of 5 in handicap at Lingfield (15.8f, AW) 11 days ago, slowly away and making big move into contention.

Form: 61-5562

(12)

Alpine Stroll^b¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Laura Coughlan⁽⁵⁾| T: E De Giles| OR: 77| D

40/1

9/2, fourth of 6 in handicap at Nottingham (14f, heavy). Off 133 days. Makes polytrack debut and no surprise were he to need this.

Form: 121034-

(2)

Jon Snow^b1¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: T E Whelan| T: George Baker| OR: 74| BF

50/1

Useful jumps winner. First run since leaving W. P. Mullins when pulled up in handicap hurdle at Chepstow (23.6f, good to soft, 150/1) 11 days ago. Blinkers on first time switched to the level.

Form: 8410/2

(4)

Militry Decoration^t⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: C Poulton| OR: 73| BF

25/1

Latest win at Southwell in December. 5/1, respectable sixth of 13 in handicap at Lingfield (15.8f, AW) 60 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 30331-6

(3)

Rhebus Road^v²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Thomas Greatrex| T: O Sherwood| OR: 71| D

33/1

Seventh of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f, 33/1) 23 days ago. Must improve, though this distance will help.

Form: 31431/7

Forecasts

Duty Of Care (9/4), Diamond Bay (10/3), Blazeon Five (5/1), Pons Aelius (5/1), First Emperor (8/1), Smart Champion (18/1), Militry Decoration (25/1), Oman (28/1), Rhebus Road (33/1), Alpine Stroll (40/1), Jon Snow (50/1), Grandmaster Flash (50/1)

Quite a few to consider here but DUTY OF CARE relished the step up to 2m when scoring here in November and he's taken to pick up where he left off. Blazeon Five seems nailed on to give his running and he's a threat, along with First Emperor.