19:45 Kempton

Saturday 17 February 2018

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

Matchbook Betting Podcast Handicap (Qualifier)

Off time: 19:46 | Winning time: 2m 19.96s

(5)

Wimpole Hall^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Josephine Gordon| T: W Jarvis| OR: 85| BF| C

3/1

In good tune at Chelmsford over the winter, including 1m2f success there in January with a bit in hand, unable to follow-up last time out. Longer trip and potentially needs career-best to score but goes on the shortlist.

Form: 7/073-15

(8)

Taqwaa^h³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S W Kelly| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 82

11/2

Lightly-raced Iffraaj gelding, excellent effort when ½L second at Chelmsford over 1m2f last month on return from 520 days off. Raised 2lb and must prove he can build on that run now.

Form: 23105/2

(9)

Argus¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: L P Keniry| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 80| C

10/1

Surprise winner at 20/1 over 2m here last month, doing things with apparent ease. Didn't back that effort up at Wolverhampton since and now drops back in trip. More called for in this field.

Form: 0509-16

(4)

Darebin²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 78| BF

6/1

Winner over this trip at Lingfield a year ago, has been toiling over jumps of late and needs return to the AW circuit to light his fire.

Form: 209/312-

(2)

Camakasi¹⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Stronge| OR: 77| CD

7/1

Career-best effort when winning over 1m2f (good to soft) at Bath in August, flopped over hurdles at Plumpton following month and off since. Needs to be fully wound up to score from current mark on return.

Form: 338431-

(6)

Gothic Empire²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Ryan Tate| T: R Rowe| OR: 77

14/1

Record on AW is 1-9, landing 7f Wolverhampton maiden in 2015 for Marco Botti. Hold-up tactics employed in three starts for this yard, including when staying on to good effect over C&D in December. Not ruled out from decreasing mark.

Form: 50405-8

(7)

Emerald Cross²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: P Mathers| T: A West| OR: 75

8/1

Has shown promise in three maidens, though disappointing at Dundalk in December over 1m4f when last out. Worth noting in the betting now sent handicapping for the first time, with potential to do better.

Form: 52-7

(3)

Chance To Dream²¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Joey Haynes| T: J R Best| OR: 75

12/1

Winner of 1m Windsor handicap (good to soft) in May, much the best of six efforts to far. Poor in both previous AW runs and returns from 213 days away with improvement required.

Form: 655184-

(1)

Red Hot Chilly⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Edward Greatrex| T: F O'Brien| OR: 71

5/1

Remains winless after 18 career starts, including over hurdles, but ran well to finish a staying-on fourth over C&D last month and since run sound race over shorter trip at Chelmsford (1¼L third of eight), entitled to go well back over this trip.

Form: 433/3-43

Forecasts

Wimpole Hall (3/1), Red Hot Chilly (5/1), Taqwaa (11/2), Darebin (6/1), Camakasi (7/1), Emerald Cross (8/1), Argus (10/1), Chance To Dream (12/1), Gothic Empire (14/1)

Nine runners and any one of them could have a chance in a wide open event. Red Hot Chilly has yet to register but has twice threatened since joining this yard and should be suited once more back over this C&D having perhaps found the trip too short at Chelmsford last time. Emerald Cross has shown enough in maidens to warrant respect now sent handicapping while Wimpole Hall has been running well but may need even more to score in this line-up. Camakasi should go well back from a break judged on Bath success in August but TAQWAA made a fine fist of things on first start for Laura Morgan last month and, raised 2lb, might go one better today.