15:00 Kempton

Friday 9 February 2018

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:35

Matchbook Casino Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 33.1s

Jennys Day²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 110

12/1

Once promising performer who has run well round here in the past but has regressed recently and will surely find top-weight too big an ask.

Form: 0-27786

Fresh New Dawn²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 110

10/1

Yet to get off the mark but is yet to run a genuinely bad race in his five race career. Down 2lb from finishing fourth at Market Rasen last time and may enjoy this return to a sounder surface.

Form: 22324

Smart Boy⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 110| BF| D

9/2

Turned a corner with a 30L romp at Plumpton three starts ago and has run two fair races in defeat since (though was sent off favourite for both of them). Unchanged mark from last time and one to consider.

Form: 38-2123

Amron Kali^t⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr B Paris-Crofts⁽⁷⁾| T: P Henderson| OR: 110WS

40/1

Form tailed off towards the end of last year following victory in a couple of similar races than this. Has been given a break/wind surgery and could be better for it here.

Form: 137500

Stonecoldsoba¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: D P Quinn| OR: 109

50/1

Has done most of his racing on the Flat but has been proven to be fairly useful over hurdles recently. Last three efforts have left plenty to be desired, however.

Form: 1187U7

Searching^v⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 108

40/1

Not at his best in two starts so far this year but now 7lb below the handicap mark is ran poorly off two starts ago and could manage better with the benefit of a couple of runs.

Form: 34/21-73

Viva Rafa²⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: R T Phillips| OR: 107

33/1

Yet to get off the mark in 14 attempts, and though he has put in some good efforts he has been well-held the last twice and needs a revival here.

Form: 343P7-7

Cornish Warrior³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 107

7/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Stratford last March in the style of a horse who should have more to offer once handicapping but has been something of a disappointment so far. Handicap mark remains unappealing for now.

Form: 413-684

Broken Quest^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 107

9/2

Up 7lb for winning at Huntingdon on handicap debut last time out. Will obviously find this tougher but top jockey keeps the ride and the ground shouldn't be an issue.

Form: 31-47P1

Toosey^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: James Davies| T: T Symonds| OR: 107

25/1

Won a point-to-point but not so impressive since returning to rules and sent over hurdles. Needs a step forward on this handicap debut.

Form: 143-655

Fly Du Charmil⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 106

7/1

Fourth in a hot novice hurdle on return last time (first two have both won since, including at Grade 2 level). Makes handicap debut here and by no means out of the reckoning off this mark.

Form: 11055/4

Polo The Mumm^t⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss H Welch⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 104

25/1

Better over hurdles than fences so encouraging to see him return to the smaller obstacles, but both wins came in weaker races than this and others are preferred.

Form: 5833-34

The Mighty Ash^p1⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 102

20/1

Beaten double figure lengths on all starts under rules so far. Cheek pieces on now but looks set for another minor role today.

Form: 8246-05

Miss Yeats⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 102

12/1

Has hit the frame in a few similar handicaps to this, and though this is a competitive enough affair it wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see her finish in the places.

Form: 526-330

Safe Harbour⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 100WS

20/1

Yet to show too much in five starts, with just one placed effort to his name so far. Down 3lb from handicap debut but much more needed following a wind op.

Form: 5/683-0

Balkinstown^b,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: C Gethings| T: R Stephens| OR: 97

14/1

Still above most recent winning handicap mark despite not maintaining that level since, and that was a weaker race. Slight drop in trip may be a small help.

Form: 143336

Cry Wolf^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 96

25/1

14 race maiden on both the Flat and over hurdles. Went close at Market Rasen in October in similar conditions but not so good since and more needed.

Form: 7634P4

Bertie Barnes²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 95

12/1

Second over C&D at a big price two starts ago but this looks tougher and has been well held at Warwick (over shorter) since.

Form: 8/6582-0

Forecasts

Broken Quest (9/2), Smart Boy (9/2), Cornish Warrior (7/1), Fly Du Charmil (7/1), Fresh New Dawn (10/1), Miss Yeats (12/1), Bertie Barnes (12/1), Jennys Day (12/1), Balkinstown (14/1), The Mighty Ash (20/1), Safe Harbour (20/1), Polo The Mumm (25/1), Cry Wolf (25/1), Toosey (25/1), Viva Rafa (33/1), Searching (40/1), Amron Kali (40/1), Stonecoldsoba (50/1)

A competitive enough affair, where the tentative suggestion is FRESH NEW DAWN. Fairly lightly-raced for Olly Murphy this gelding has looked like he is practically waiting to get off the mark in a race such as this, and having been dropped 2lb since his last effort at Market Rasen he can make this return to a slightly sounder surface a winning one. Smart Boy may be the biggest danger off a workable mark, while at a likely bigger price Miss Yeats may be capable of hitting the frame.