19:30 Kempton

Wednesday 15 March 2023

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Read Nicky Henderson's Cheltenham Blog At UnibetRacing Handicap

Off time: 19:32 | Winning time: 3m 35.27s

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(3)

Golden Rules⁶³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D Faulkner| OR: 91

9/1

12/1, good fourth of 19 in handicap at Royal Ascot (20f, good to firm), well positioned. Off 21 months. First run for yard after leaving John & Thady Gosden. Something to prove.

Form: 421/244-

(6)

Diamond Bay⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: S M Levey| T: T Ward| OR: 87| C| D

11/4

Course winner. 10/3, respectable fourth of 12 in handicap at this C&D 7 days ago, travelling smoothly. Merits respect.

Form: 3126-64

(2)

Military Two Step³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 87| D

6/1

Two wins from 6 runs last year. Latest win at Chelmsford City in November. 4/1, creditable third of 6 in handicap at Wolverhampton (16.6f) 36 days ago. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 6181-43

(1)

East Asia³¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: Ian Williams| OR: 84| D

8/1

24½ lengths eighth of 9 to Hamish in Ormonde Stakes at Chester (13.4f, good to soft, 40/1). Off 10 months. Makes polytrack debut. Worth monitoring in the betting.

Form: 310/208-

(4)

Smart Champion^h⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Saffie Osborne| T: D M Simcock| OR: 79| CD

18/1

C&D winner. Two wins from 6 runs last year. Latest win here in September. Eleventh of 12 in handicap at this C&D (18/1) 7 days ago, not ideally placed. Type to bounce back quickly.

Form: 1-55620

(7)

First Emperor^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Loughnane⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 82| CD

11/8

C&D winner. Latest win here in January. 8/1, creditable third of 12 in handicap at this C&D 7 days ago. Merits respect.

Form: 0-71123

(5)

De Vega's Warrior^t³⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Theodore Ladd| T: M Appleby| OR: 78

22/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, last of 5 in handicap (33/1) at Sandown (14f, good to firm). Off 10 months. Makes polytrack debut. Others preferred.

Form: 25/4265-

Forecasts

First Emperor (11/8), Diamond Bay (11/4), Military Two Step (6/1), East Asia (8/1), Golden Rules (9/1), Smart Champion (18/1), De Vega's Warrior (22/1)

FIRST EMPEROR ran well when third over C&D a week ago and this doesn't look a particularly strong race, so he's preferredt to Military Two Step, who also arrives on the back of a solid showing. Diamond Bay is also worthy of consideration.