19:15 Kempton

Saturday 27 January 2018

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

32Red.com Handicap

Off time: 19:15 | Winning time: 1m 11.55s

(4)

Helvetian¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Charles Bishop| T: M R Channon| OR: 88| D

11/2

Won a maiden at Bath (5½f, good to soft) but little impact when highly-tried afterwards last season. Plenty of encouragement dropped into a handicap for the first time when a runner-up over 6f at Lingfield recently and commands respect now.

Form: 84004-2

(7)

Emilia James⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 83

7/1

Winner of a 5f novices' stakes at Chelmsford back in June but hasn't really built on that, though she was a runner-up in a four-runner event at Wolverhampton (5f) recently. Questions still to answer over 6f though.

Form: 0726-62

(6)

Choice Encounter⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 81| BF| CD

11/4

Yet to finish outside the first two in four starts since being gelded in the spring, winning over this C&D on his penultimate start. No match for a well-handicapped sort over 5f last time but respected back over 6f.

Form: 2422-12

(2)

Our Man In Havana¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 78| D

8/1

Landed two 6f races for Tom Dascombe before winning for this yard over 7f at Wolverhampton in November. Has remained competitive since off a revised mark and will appreciate the return to 6f having found 5f too sharp latest.

Form: 1215-24

(3)

Angel of The South¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 77| D

8/1

Has failed to justify a £170,000 yearling price tag but finally opened her account in a fillies novice event at Wolverhampton (6f) last month. Struggled in a hot conditions event over C&D last time but this more realistic.

Form: 00921-5

(8)

Bezos^p³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 75

10/1

Finally off the mark at the eighth attempt when scoring decisively over 7f at Lingfield last month. Drop in trip and 8lb rise against him whilst a scheduled run here on Friday (9.15pm) may take an edge off him.

Form: 874241-

(1)

Magic Mark²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 71

8/1

Remains a maiden after six starts, though not beaten too far in his last two AW starts (both 5f on tapeta). Switch to polytrack and step up to 6f may see him in a better light.

Form: 33663-2

(5)

Axe Cap^b1⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 66| BF

4/1

Has been placed three times from her six starts so far but could only manage fourth place when a beaten favourite for the third time in succession over 5f at Southwell last time. Blinkers reached for and yet to convince at 6f.

Form: 7325-24

Forecasts

Choice Encounter (11/4), Axe Cap (4/1), Helvetian (11/2), Emilia James (7/1), Our Man In Havana (8/1), Angel of The South (8/1), Magic Mark (8/1), Bezos (10/1)

A few of these still have questions to answer but less so HELVETIAN who did little wrong on his belated handicap debut at Lingfield recently when just edged out by Count Otto. That was his first airing since October, so Mick Channon's colt may derive sufficient benefit from that to oblige off a similar mark with Choice Encounter and Magic Mark looking obvious dangers.