19:40 Kempton

Wednesday 23 October 2024

All16:0016:3517:0817:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Try Unibet's Improved Bet Builder Handicap

Off time: 19:46 | Winning time: 1m 38.07s

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(10)

Gorak^p⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: D Egan| T: C Fellowes| OR: 95| D

18/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2023 but has largely held his form well this season, third of 13 in handicap at Chester (7.6f, good to firm, 6/1) 53 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 420033

(5)

Tempus^b⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Laura Coughlan⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 93| D

25/1

Seventeen runs since last win in 2022. Made the frame in a trio of handicaps this summer, but found run of good form coming to a halt when last of 9 at Ascot (8f, good to soft, 12/1) 47 days ago. Bounce back called for.

Form: 702449

(1)

Fantasy Believer³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Saffie Osborne| T: E Walker| OR: 93| CD

22/1

Typically slowly away but completed hat-trick when scoring at Southwell (11.1f) in August. Possibly unsuited by conditions when last of 9 in handicap at Newbury (10f, soft, 12/1) 32 days ago, though he needs things to drop right.

Form: 49-1119

(4)

Excel Power^p⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 93| D

28/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2022 and has been proving more miss than hit this year, eighth of 11 in handicap at Ripon (8f, good, 22/1) when last seen in July.

Form: 2-07848

(8)

Silver Sword²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Greg Cheyne| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 93| D

11/4

Three-time winner last season. After 9 weeks off, shaped better than result when eighteenth of 31 in Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket (9f, good to soft, 28/1) 25 days ago, not ideally placed. Back down to his last winning mark.

Form: 488700

(13)

Whitcombe Rockstar^t⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 92| CD

9/2

Made it 5 wins from 6 runs this year when landing 14-runner handicap (11/1) at this C&D 46 days ago, scoring readily under good ride from widest draw. Not taken lightly in his current form.

Form: 110111

(3)

Bless Him^h⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 92| D

25/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2022. Hasn't gone on from his encouraging reappearance, ninth of 10 in handicap at Ascot (8f, good to firm, 15/2) 74 days ago, but he lurks on a dangerous mark.

Form: 300809

(7)

Under The Sun^b1³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Harry Davies| T: H Palmer| OR: 95| D

40/1

Has failed to beat a rival on last 3 starts, tailed off in listed race at Ayr (10f, good to firm, 150/1) 32 days ago. Blinkers now reached for as he makes handicap debut.

Form: 1-45079

(14)

Merlin The Wizard⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 92| C| D

20/1

Won 3 times last year, including at this course (7f). However, hasn't offered much on last 3 starts, off a further 3 months ahead of finishing seventh of 9 in handicap at Newmarket (7f, good, 16/1) 74 days ago.

Form: 1510-07

(9)

Lion Of War^b1²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: C Johnston| OR: 90

14/1

In first-time cheekpieces, failed to come on for reappearance (had rejoined former yard) when tailed off in Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket (9f, good to soft, 100/1) 25 days ago. Has enough to prove with blinkers applied.

Form: 1289-90

(12)

Gloucestershire¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: M Meade| OR: 90| C

10/1

After 10-month absence, shaped encouragingly on sole run for Richard Hannon when third at Newmarket (10f, good to firm, 8/1) in May. Off again since, but he's one to consider dropped in trip returned to his previous yard.

Form: 34/342-3

(2)

Love De Vega²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: C Johnston| OR: 90| D

20/1

Three wins from 17 runs this year, with latest success at Pontefract in July. Unproven on the ground when last of 6 in handicap at Goodwood (8f, heavy, 28/1) 28 days ago. Has something to find from his current mark, though.

Form: 916286

(6)

Mortlake⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Edward Greatrex| T: R M Beckett| OR: 92

12/1

Not in the same form as previous outing when last of 10 in handicap at Goodwood (9.9f, good to firm, 14/1) 83 days ago. Needs to find more back down in trip as he makes polytrack debut.

Form: 615-030

(11)

Dolce Courage^t³⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 89| D

3/1

Unbeaten in 2 starts last year, much improved from debut when defying a penalty in 9-runner novice (7/4) at Newcastle (8f) in October. Off 11 months but he's a major player on handicap debut.

Form: 11-

Forecasts

Silver Sword (11/4), Dolce Courage (3/1), Whitcombe Rockstar (9/2), Gloucestershire (10/1), Mortlake (12/1), Lion Of War (14/1), Gorak (18/1), Love De Vega (20/1), Merlin The Wizard (20/1), Fantasy Believer (22/1), Tempus (25/1), Bless Him (25/1), Excel Power (28/1), Under The Sun (40/1)

DOLCE COURAGE looked a useful prospect when winning a pair of novice races last year and he is taken to make a successful reappearance with more still to offer as he goes handicapping. He can see off the challenge of Whitcombe Rockstar, who is respected as he bids for a sixth win of the season, with Gloucestershire completing the shortlist.