15:20 Kempton

Monday 6 November 2017

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

32Red London Middle Distance Series Final Handicap

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 2m 20.25s

(3)

Ply³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: W Buick| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 92| CD

10/11

Dubawi gelding on the improve lately, winning his last two starts here with plenty in hand, latest when stepped up to this trip. Has another ratings hike to contend with in a stronger race, but will be a shock if he doesn't have a major say.

Form: 505311

(2)

Western Duke⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: R M Beckett| OR: 91| CD

6/1

Lightly-raced sort, improved for switch to AW when defying odds of 25/1 to take C&D event in September. Up in class this time but could progress on this surface.

Form: 2-78341

(7)

Seniority²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 90| CD

5/1

C&D winner in Class 4 last month on AW bow, showing really game attitude to do so. Stable continue to be in superb form lately with 26% strike rate and further improvement cannot be ruled out.

Form: 10-7531

(4)

Royal Reserve²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: D O'Meara| OR: 84| C

20/1

Good tactical ride from Martin Harley to score over 1m4f here in September, unable to repeat in stronger contest last month and this again looks much tougher.

Form: 352218

(8)

Azam⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 85| C

66/1

Formerly trained by John Gosden and looked full of promise when taking a maiden over 1m2f here by a wide margin a year ago. Unable to build on that since and well beaten over C&D in September on second start for this yard. Questions to answer now.

Form: 1-69530

(10)

Koeman²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J F Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 85| CD

12/1

Took a while to get going but now has three wins from previous six starts, landed a 20/1 shock over this C&D in September to take a Class 3 event, held since on turf at Newmarket and will likely have to improve a smidge to be in the mix here.

Form: 113318

(9)

Just In Time²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Dwyer| T: A King| OR: 82| C

8/1

Excelebration gelding on the rapid improve this season, runner-up at Leicester on reappearance in August but has won all three starts since, including over 1m4f here (Class 5). Faces toughest task to date, but is going the right way.

Form: 87-2111

(6)

Desert Ruler³³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 76

16/1

Seems to 'bump into one' more often than not recently, finishing second in five of previous six starts, latest being a 3L defeat behind Ply over this C&D 33 days ago. Much better off at these weighs but may still find the outcome is the same.

Form: 232222

(1)

X Rated⁴⁰

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

33/1

Winner of a low-grade 1m2f contest at Bath (good to firm) in July but has found things tough ever since. Latest being a tame effort over C&D last month when coming home last of 10 (race won by Koeman). Stiff task on again.

Form: 152560

(5)

Luv U Whatever^p,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 70| D

66/1

Struggled in all four recent AW outings, two of them here in races won by Ply, very hard to see how that form will turn around now.

Form: 670969

Forecasts

Ply (10/11), Seniority (5/1), Western Duke (6/1), Just In Time (8/1), Koeman (12/1), Desert Ruler (16/1), Royal Reserve (20/1), X Rated (33/1), Luv U Whatever (66/1), Azam (66/1)

PLY qualified for this with a really stylish display to win over C&D last month, looking every inch a progressive colt as he did. This is going to be tougher but it won't come as a surprise if he has the answers once more. Desert Ruler was second there, a position he has become accustomed to, and may again have to settle for a supporting role. Of more concern might be another improver in Seniority for the in-form William Haggas team while Just In Time and Western Duke are the other upwardly mobile sorts that could have designs on better.