18:50 Kempton

Wednesday 15 February 2017

All17:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

32Red Handicap

Off time: 18:52 | Winning time: 1m 41.34s

(5)

Franco's Secret^v¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: P Hedger| OR: 84

3/1

Is 2/2 so far this year with a couple of narrow victories including one here 12 days ago. Goes up 2lb for that which shouldn't be too much of an issue in what could prove to be a weaker race than last time. Big player.

Form: 257690

(10)

Cherbourg¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: G Baker| T: R M Beckett| OR: 83

1/1

French import who had some decent form in his home country before running a very solid second on his British debut in a tougher contest than this at Lingfield. Has to be a big player here.

Form: 84506-2

(8)

Alejandro⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: D Loughnane| OR: 83

25/1

Steps down in class today, but it has to be a concern that he hasn't won since July 2014, and has run poorly on most starts on the all weather. Something to prove against other horses with much more recent winning form.

Form: 813771

(2)

Zaeem^p,t1⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: T Eaves| T: I Furtado| OR: 81

20/1

Looks past his best with some decent, but unexciting form to his name over the past couple of years. Has previously placed over C&D but will need the first time headgear to bring out considerable improvement in order for him to be a genuine challenger.

Form: 552674

(4)

Mister Music¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: S W Kelly| T: A W Carroll| OR: 79

11/2

Consistent sort who has always been on the premises since moving to this yard back in July, without yet getting his head in front. Has place form over C&D and this looks an easier race than some of recent assignments, so he has to have a big chance.

Form: 63-4303

(3)

Beleave^h²³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: L A Dace| OR: 75

16/1

Beaten only a short head by Fort Jefferson at Newbury last time and returns after a break since then. Proved he was on a workable mark during that last defeat, and that remains unchanged, but he has the break to overcome. Surface and draw both fine.

Form: 1R1852-

(6)

Matravers⁸⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: K Shoemark⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Mary Hambro| OR: 75

33/1

Off since September 2014, having won and finished a close second over C&D on his two final runs before the break. That is encouraging, but the 877 day absence is not, and it would be a huge training achievement for the handler (who he runs for, for the first time) if he were to come close here.

Form: 512/747

(9)

Fire Diamond^p¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: F Norton| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 72

8/1

Shot up the handicap after a series of victories over a furlong shorter than this, and though he was beaten (fairly narrowly) at Lingfield last time, there could be more improvement to come.

Form: 1-14405

Non-Runners

(1)

Fort Jefferson³⁶

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: David Probert

(7)

Freight Train¹²

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: A Wintle J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Cherbourg (1/1), Franco's Secret (3/1), Mister Music (11/2), Fire Diamond (8/1), Fort Jefferson (10/1), Beleave (16/1), Zaeem (20/1), Alejandro (25/1), Matravers (33/1), Freight Train (50/1)

Quite a few of these have recent winning form, including Franco's Secret, who comes here only slightly higher in the weights after a recent C&D win, while recent French import Cherbourg can also go close if coming on for a solid second at Lingfield last time. Preference though, is for FIRE DIAMOND, who has shown massive amounts of improvement recently and looks to still be going the right way despite his run of victories coming to an end last time out. He can return to winning ways off what looks to be a workable mark. . 1. Fire Diamond 2. Cherbourg 3. Franco's Secret