15:15 Kempton

Saturday 1 April 2017

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Betfred 'Home Of Goals Galore' Rosebery Handicap

Off time: 15:17 | Winning time: 2m 18.27s

(2)

Prince Of Arran¹²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: T P Queally| T: C Fellowes| OR: 102

13/2

Lost his unbeaten record at this track in the 1m4f Wild Flower Listed Stakes in November 2016, finishing an unlucky in running 3+L fourth of 12 to Crimean Tatar. Had previously won here on three occasions over varying trips since November 2015, so clearly a force to be reckoned with despite his mark taking a major hit.

Form: 714-352

(5)

Wild Hacked¹⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Botti| OR: 97

13/2

Progressive in the latter half of 2016, winning two of his final three starts (on the Chelmsford Polytrack in August; 10F, and a Class 3 handicap at Windsor in October; 1m3f+). Won a shade cosily on the latter occasion, and upped 8lbs.

Form: 2141-21

(13)

Diana Lady²⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: R Haugen| OR: 95

100/1

Previously raced in both Chile and Norway, so difficult to get an accurate gauge on her level of ability. Her AW experience so far is limited to Dirt, and she's yet to run over this trip in twelve career starts.

Form: 6235-09

(3)

Noble Gift¹⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Shepherd⁽³⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 94

16/1

Hard fought nose winner of this race (for this rider) in 2015, and went down by a neck when contesting the Listed Magnolia Stakes on this card in 2016, so clearly goes well here during the month of March. Returns from a break this time around; last seen in November 2016 when going down by 5¾L to Prince of Arran over 1m4f at this track.

Form: 00563-6

(7)

Southdown Lad¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Knight| OR: 94

7/1

Stablemate of Noble Gift who had a fairly quiet campaign during 2016, winning once from his four starts. That success came over 1m4f in a small field Newbury Class 2 handicap in September, but this three time career winner remains relatively unexposed on synthetics so could be capable of improvement.

Form: 1/3315-0

(11)

Sennockian Star⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94

20/1

Lingfield regular of late, but has won here in the not too distant past (1m4f handicap from a 10lb lower mark in January 2017). Has run a further eight times since that success (winning twice), so like the majority of his stablemates is battle hardy. Likes to race prominently, but seeing off this field from the front after a hectic campaign is a big ask.

Form: 553065

(8)

Final¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 91

8/1

Stablemate of Sennockian Song who has carried on his progressive turf form from last summer into this AW campaign. A five time winner from 17 career starts, his most recent form figures read 2,1,2,1, and there's plenty to like about seeing off previous winners Qaffaal (Chelmsford, 1m2f) and Codeshare (Newcastle, 1m4½f). Has met every challenge in his way head on and is a major player despite a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 192U25

(12)

Storm Rock¹⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Fran Berry| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 91

33/1

1m2f Salisbury Class 2 handicap winner (soft) in September 2016, which was his clear best effort of 2016 (also finished ninth of 22 in the Lincoln handicap at Doncaster in April), but held from this sort of mark on his final two starts of the year, and returns from a winter break with questions to answer on this surface.

Form: 07150-0

(10)

Gawdawpalin⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: S Kirk| OR: 89

12/1

Remembered for springing a 25/1 surprise in a 1m2f Epsom Derby Day handicap in 2016, but has returned in good shape this year as demonstrated when going down by 2½L to Abareeq over 1m4f at Lingfield last week. Inching up the weights; 2lb higher, but goes well for this rider (won a Windsor maiden together in October 2015).

Form: 052-243

(1)

William Hunter¹⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: A King| OR: 87

12/1

Three time winner on turf from June 2016 onwards (Windsor, Brighton and Ascot) who earned his place in the November Handicap at Doncaster. Posted a career best effort when approximately 5L fourth of 15 (nearest at the finish) to Prize Money. Returns on the same mark for just his second ever AW start, but this strong stayer might find things happening a shade too quickly today.

Form: 1164-84

(6)

Getback In Paris²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 87

16/1

Former French racer (Jean Claude Rouget), and kicked off 2017 running in maiden and juvenile hurdles for Jamie Snowden before joining this trainer. Finished 1½L second to subsequent winner Abareeq on his stable and AW debut over 1m2f here earlier this month. Upped 2lb in a stronger race, but something of an unknown in terms of potential and respected.

Form: 503-252

(15)

General Hazard²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 84

16/1

Has proved a bargain at 20,000 gns since joining this trainer from Michael Bell, winning both of his starts for the yard this month. Those Newcastle and Chelmsford victories came over 1m2f (under Ben Curtis), and despite being 4 from 9 on the AW, this race represents a sharp hike in grade, but there's certainly no knocking a horse rated just 59 in December 2016 that is now rated 84.

Form: 705112

(4)

Fergall¹⁰⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 8-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J W Mullins| OR: 84

14/1

Veteran, but a fair winning hurdler (Newton Abbot, Huntingdon and Plumpton) in his day, and unlucky not to be runner up to Brain Power when last visiting the racecourse at Ascot in December. Has just the six Flat starts to his name, but did win a 1m maiden at Lingfield in February 2015, but this looks a tough test despite the assistance of a most talented rider.

Form: 17/3-0

(9)

Big Country⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: S De Sousa| T: M Appleby| OR: 84

4/1

No better than third in five starts as a three-year-old for Charles O'Brien in Ireland, but joined this trainer for 28,000 gns in October 2016, and hacked up by 7L in a 1m4f Wolverhampton maiden in February. Now rated 84, remains unexposed and looks to give newly formed trainer/jockey combination their first of (likely) many big pay days together.

Form: 8345-11

Non-Runners

(14)

Dutch Uncle¹⁴

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: E A L Dunlop J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Big Country (4/1), Wild Hacked (13/2), Prince Of Arran (13/2), Southdown Lad (7/1), Final (8/1), Gawdawpalin (12/1), William Hunter (12/1), Fergall (14/1), Getback In Paris (16/1), Noble Gift (16/1), General Hazard (16/1), Dutch Uncle (16/1), Sennockian Star (20/1), Storm Rock (33/1), Diana Lady (100/1)

A rip-roaring Rosebery Handicap, which is ultra competitive as one would expect for the prize money on offer. A number of battle hardened AW regulars clash heads with some unexposed sorts in what is a tough puzzle to solve. Big Country is to the fore of the market, with the expectation that his best days are to come, and that is almost certain to be the case in the care of the excellent Mick Appleby. Dutch Uncle (runner up in 2016) has very much been there and got the t-shirt, but life will be tough from his mark nowadays, whilst 2015 winner (and 2016 Magnolia Stakes runner up) Noble Gift clearly thrives at this track at this time of the year. However, the selection is FINAL. This tough, improving five-year-old gelding has done everything asked of him since last summer, and his recent AW form has a strong feel, and without any shadow of a doubt he fully proved his stamina over longer trips when winning at Newcastle recently.