20:45 Kempton

Friday 5 January 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

32Red Casino Handicap

Off time: 20:46 | Winning time: 1m 40.04s

(10)

Nature Boy²⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J Mitchell| T: R Brisland| OR: 69

5/1

First run for new yard (formerly Peter Chapple-Hyam) and signs of ability on all three starts to date. May need this after an absence and not well drawn for one that has led previously, but a bit of market support would make him interesting.

Form: 52/5-

(6)

Plucky Dip¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: J Ryan| OR: 68| CD

12/1

Regular on the all-weather, not really in any great form at present, although step back up to 7f may help. C&D winner in the past but hard to predict these days, and not difficult to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: 789398-

(12)

Steal The Scene^p¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: D C Costello| T: K Frost| OR: 67| C

9/1

Back to form after a short break when only just touched off at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day, the line coming just a stride too soon for his late finish. Cheekpieces seemed to do the trick there (on again here) so every chance of going one better.

Form: 390082-

(14)

Shifting Star^t,v⁶⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 9-4| J: William Carson| T: J J Bridger| OR: 66| C| D

50/1

Well into the veteran stage now and recent form suggests his best days are behind him. This trip looks on the short side as well, and with the yard struggling for form, others are readily preferred.

Form: 538696-

(4)

Exit Europe^p1⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 66| C

7/2

C&D winner here back in 2015, and has only had a handful of starts since then, so not fully exposed. Looked a winner in waiting after Lingfield second in November but disappointed badly on latest start and a bit to prove after that.

Form: 313/520-

(8)

Happy Escape^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: T J Murphy| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 63

12/1

Second run for her new yard, and her first was full of promise, showing plenty of early speed and sticking well to the task once headed. That was over C&D too, so no issues with trip or track, and chance if taking another step forward on that.

Form: 47723-

(11)

Dana's Present⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: A G Newcombe| OR: 63| CD

66/1

Has won his share over the years, and likes this track (last win came here, albeit back in 2016) but was well beaten on last couple of starts in the autumn and despite a good-looking mark, may be best watched here.

Form: 553300-

(9)

Almanack²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Pattinson| OR: 61| C

40/1

Winner over this trip on the turf last summer (firm ground) and although too keen on first run back from a break at Chelmsford last time, didn't really show enough to suggest he's going to be taking a hand in this. May need another run or two.

Form: 251388-

(13)

Frozen Lake^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Fran Berry| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 61

33/1

Well enough handicapped if you go back far enough, and does like this track (last win coming here back in 2016) but last couple of efforts rather suggest he's gone off the boil, and not hard to think there are more likely winners in the field.

Form: 36/4698-

(7)

Big Bad Lol³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Liam Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 61

4/1

Unexposed, and came good at the fifth time of asking in a Wolverhampton handicap last time out, getting up late in the piece. Slight drop back in trip here not necessarily a positive, but clearly capable of better and has to be respected.

Form: 60761-

(2)

Galinthias⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Levi Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: S Dow| OR: 61| D

25/1

Won a little event at Brighton in the summer and 6lb lower here, so no problem with his mark, and not totally disgraced over C&D when last seen in November. Good pace up front would help, and not a lost cause from a decent draw.

Form: 157878-

(3)

Dragon Dream²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: R Ingram| OR: 60| C

20/1

Was running with a degree of consistency in the summer, and nicked a race under a good ride from Rhiain Ingram here in June. Mark fine, and worth another try at a mile after reasonable effort over 7f here last time. Could go okay at a price.

Form: 326697-

(1)

Mr Mac^h,t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Charles Bishop| T: P Hedger| OR: 60| C

5/1

Winner over 7f here two starts ago and things didn't go his way when fifth at Lingfield last time out. Looks to have refound his form after a poor spell and another good effort looks on the cards from the inside draw.

Form: 830014

Non-Runners

(5)

Magic Mirror¹⁶

Weight: 9-1| Age: 5

T: M G Rimell J: Tom Marquand

Forecasts

Exit Europe (7/2), Big Bad Lol (4/1), Nature Boy (5/1), Mr Mac (5/1), Magic Mirror (5/1), Steal The Scene (9/1), Happy Escape (12/1), Plucky Dip (12/1), Dragon Dream (20/1), Galinthias (25/1), Frozen Lake (33/1), Almanack (40/1), Shifting Star (50/1), Dana's Present (66/1)

BIG BAD LOL looks the progressive one and may be able to follow up his Wolverhampton victory, where he still looked a little green. With the promise of more to come, he can win again. Magic Mirror found the line coming too soon for her last time but she remains in good heart and can prove the main danger. Steal The Scene can run well if the cheekpieces work again.