16:15 Kempton

Tuesday 22 August 2017

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Matchbook Traders Conference Handicap

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 1m 24.37s

(9)

Claim The Roses⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: L Morris| T: E F Vaughan| OR: 91| C| D

8/1

Three wins in 12 AW starts and made a pleasing reappearance this season when a close fifth at Newcastle in June. Did not seem to enjoy the return to turf last time and has to be taken seriously back on a synthetic surface.

Form: 2200-57

(4)

Intransigent^h¹⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: William Cox⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 91| CD

14/1

Has won five times on the AW, including over C&D in January. Only 1lb higher and has to be of interest if able to hit back from a poor show on turf last time.

Form: 122500

(5)

Firmdecisions¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Jack Duern⁽³⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 89| CD

14/1

C&D winner, but struggling lately and needs the return to this track, where he normally runs well, to prompt a resurgence. Inching back down the weights.

Form: 635300

(7)

Finelcity^b³⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 88| CD

7/1

Rattled off a hat-trick of course wins in a visor last season and makes his return following a lengthy absence. Blinkers replace his most recent headgear and, given his record at this track, he warrants considerable respect.

Form: 242111-

(3)

Cape Icon^v1⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 84| C

6/1

Frontrunner who has won at this track over 1m. First-time visor follows the application of a hood and cheekpieces on his previous two starts as connections search for the key to success.

Form: 14009-3

(8)

Manton Grange^p1⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: T E Whelan| T: George Baker| OR: 83| BF| D

16/1

Steady improvement on turf since being gelded, including when winning at Leicester two starts ago. Only his second try on the AW and wears cheekpieces for the first time.

Form: 27-2312

(10)

Human Nature^t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Milly Naseb⁽⁷⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 83| CD

14/1

Made all over C&D under this jockey last month and ran respectably on turf at Epsom last time. Only 3lb higher than his victory two starts ago and has to enter calculations.

Form: 1/6-6514

(6)

Athassel¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Katherine Begley⁽⁷⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 83| CD

25/1

Has been kept seriously busy since joining this stable, but has rewarded that approach with eight wins in as many months, one of them over C&D. Has shot up the weights, however, and the handicapper may have caught him.

Form: 532995

(11)

Sir Titan¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S J Drowne| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 88| D

7/2

Has looked transformed since being gelded before the start of his 3yo campaign, winning twice and just being touched off last time. Tries his luck at this track for the first time and has to be respected given his continued improvement.

Form: 86-112

(2)

Ernststavroblofeld¹⁰²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Meade| OR: 85

4/1

Won his maiden on debut at Yarmouth and was tried too highly in Listed company next time. Not disgraced in three handicaps on turf this year and shapes as though this drop in trip will suit if he takes to the AW.

Form: 10-538

(1)

Tailor's Row¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 75

20/1

Only success in 19 starts came on his 2yo debut in May, last year. Has run respectably on recent outings, but has been beaten off this mark twice and hard to see why this should be any different.

Form: 697824

Forecasts

Sir Titan (7/2), Ernststavroblofeld (4/1), Cape Icon (6/1), Finelcity (7/1), Claim The Roses (8/1), Intransigent (14/1), Firmdecisions (14/1), Human Nature (14/1), Manton Grange (16/1), Tailor's Row (20/1), Athassel (25/1)

It will be interesting to see if Finelcity can continue his progress on this belated return to action, but the probability is that the race will be needed and, in any case, this is quite competitive. Human Nature is high on the list of potential winners along with Claim The Roses, but SIR TITAN looks the most progressive sort among those with recent form and he can return to winning ways.