15:40 Kempton

Friday 9 February 2024

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1516:50

Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 6m 24.0s

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Selected odds by:

Black Gerry⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 137

9/1

Won all 4 of his starts when completing last season, seeing off 5 rivals with another polished display in Plumpton handicap in April. However, never in the hunt both starts this season and back down in class now.

Form: PP11-P5

Francky Du Berlais^t⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 135| D

16/1

Won the 2022 Summer Plate at Market Rasen and some good efforts since, including when runner-up in cross country at Cheltenham 8 weeks ago. Should go well again.

Form: 523842

Killer Kane^t⁶⁹

9/4

Impressed when landing a gamble in this race last year (off 5 lb lower) and best effort since when third at Newbury 69 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: 4153-53

Highstakesplayer⁴⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 127

6/1

Progressed well over timber in 2021/22, scoring twice. Picked up where he left off to make a winning chase debut (easily) at Hereford on return last season and followed up under a penalty there the following week. Off since (15 months), however.

Form: 3112/11-

Emir Sacree^p⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 126

11/1

More lows than highs since his last win almost 2 years ago, let down by jumping at Ascot latest.

Form: P3P-P34

First Lord De Cuet^p,t³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 125| D

10/3

Winning hurdler who made the frame on all his 5 runs over fences last term. Back to best when runner-up to a subsequent winner at Market Rasen last month, pulling clear of the rest, and is of interest again now.

Form: 243-UP2

Iconic Muddle³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 120

10/3

Relatively low-mileage 11-y-o who resumed from 9 months off with a good second of 7 in handicap chase at Wincanton (20.2f, heavy) 34 days ago, staying on well. Player if seeing out longer trip.

Form: 5/2534-2

Non-Runners

Bobhopeornohope⁵¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 9

T: K Bailey & M Nicholls J: David Bass

Switch Hitter⁴⁸

Weight: 11-13| Age: 9

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Forecasts

Killer Kane (9/4), Iconic Muddle (10/3), First Lord De Cuet (10/3), Highstakesplayer (6/1), Switch Hitter (6/1), Black Gerry (9/1), Emir Sacree (11/1), Francky Du Berlais (16/1), Bobhopeornohope (16/1)

FIRST LORD DE CUET is one to be interested in again suddenly having pulled clear of the rest when second to a subsequent winner at Market Rasen last month. Killer Kane landed a gamble in this race last year and is an obvious threat on the back of a decent third at Newbury, while low-mileage 11-y-o Iconic Muddle made a promising comeback at Wincanton.