21:15 Kempton

Saturday 6 January 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

32Red Casino Handicap

Off time: 21:17 | Winning time: 2m 21.38s

(12)

Thaqaffa^h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: M Harley| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 65

5/1

Landed a 1m½f handicap at Nottingham in May, but has not been the same force since and is 11lb lower. Drops into class six company for the first time and has been running as though he will get this longer trip.

Form: 950735-

(6)

Dolphin Village^h¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mullen| T: S A Harris| OR: 63

12/1

Experienced campaigner who has become increasingly hard to win with over the years and is without a success in 13 starts for this yard. Encouraging effort when dropped into this grade last month before finding himself highly tried last time.

Form: 986835-

(4)

Conkering Hero^v1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J Tuite| OR: 65

16/1

Positively ridden when scoring impressively on his last run in this grade. Has been ridden differently or finding his stamina tested since. Visor fitted and plenty going for him so there can be no excuses this time.

Form: 146490-

(7)

Freedom Fighter^b1,t⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Aled Beech⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Pinfield| OR: 60

14/1

Former Balydoyle tenant who has returned from a five year hiatus with three unplaced efforts. Has had another three months on the sidelines and hard to see blinkers having sufficient impact.

Form: 4/566-

(5)

Tyrsal³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: C Lines| OR: 60| C

10/1

Winner in this grade at Leicester during the summer and some honest races in defeat have seen him hit hard by the handicapper. Dropping to a more reasonable mark now and chances will hinge on him getting a good gallop to aim at.

Form: 286066-

(2)

Diamond Reflection^t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: D C Costello| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 60

25/1

Oasis Dream half-brother to ten-time winner Point North amongst others. Joined current yard for £600 having lost his way hurdling. Would have claims on his 2015 form but that is a fading memory.

Form: 42/90-

(14)

Victoriously^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: Andi Brown| OR: 60

4/1

Excellent run on Boxing Day on second run back from an absence should have him spot on for this. Shaped then as though this extra furlong would help and he looks one of the more likely contenders.

Form: 231/182-

(10)

Bogardus¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 59| C

16/1

Won a class five race here in 2015 and landed another contest on turf in 2016. In poor form more recently under both codes and yard have gone 212 days without a winner.

Form: 46108-5

(3)

Gee Sixty Six⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Joey Haynes| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 58

20/1

There have been some positive signs, but his last three efforts have been poor. May need further than this and yard are without a winner in 142 days.

Form: 553670-

(9)

Betsalottie²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: William Carson| T: J J Bridger| OR: 56| D

11/2

Has an unattractive 2-32 record but has been in good form recently. Ran as well as could be expected when trapped wide from a poor draw last time. Will appreciate the longer trip, but others have stronger claims.

Form: 451254-

(11)

The Gay Cavalier^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: J Ryan| OR: 56| CD

14/1

Has put in the occasional good effort recently, but losses are mounting and others arrive here in better form and hold stronger claims.

Form: 637670-

(13)

Rowlestonerendezvu²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 50

6/1

Winner at Ffos Las during the summer, but has looked harshly treated in recent outings. The stable have been through a barren spell, but there have been some positive signs lately.

Form: 664075-

(8)

Garcon De Soleil²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁵⁾| T: M Blanshard| OR: 45

12/1

12-race maiden who ran his best race here off a basement mark in September. An experiment over 2m failed last time and he faces a stiff task from 5lb out of the weights.

Form: 574679-

(1)

Clandon⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: B R Johnson| OR: 45

25/1

Tailed off most starts and well beaten at Lingfield when last seen. Hard to make any sort of case for at present.

Form: 70/7000-

Forecasts

Victoriously (4/1), Thaqaffa (5/1), Betsalottie (11/2), Rowlestonerendezvu (6/1), Tyrsal (10/1), Garcon De Soleil (12/1), Dolphin Village (12/1), Freedom Fighter (14/1), The Gay Cavalier (14/1), Conkering Hero (16/1), Bogardus (16/1), Gee Sixty Six (20/1), Clandon (25/1), Diamond Reflection (25/1)

Few of these have appealing profiles, but VICTORIOUSLY has a good strike rate over the past couple of seasons and looked ready to win a race of his nature last time. Conkering Hero could improve on recent efforts back at this level and returning to his best trip, whilst topweight Thaqaffa and Dolphin Village may offer something dropping into this lower grade.