20:15 Kempton

Wednesday 21 February 2018

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

32Red Casino Handicap

Off time: 20:15 | Winning time: 1m 11.39s

(3)

Lightning Charlie¹⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: K Shoemark| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 87| CD

7/1

Dual C&D winner who has a good record on polytrack. Looks held by Little Palaver on last season's form, but well drawn and has gone well fresh in the past.

Form: 251000-

(2)

Doc Sportello^p⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: A W Carroll| OR: 87| D

11/2

Drops to this grade for the first time and signs at Newcastle last time that he was approaching his best. Yet to prove as effective on polytrack, but his two previous runs on the surface were more difficult tasks. Well drawn.

Form: 67078-3

(8)

Little Palaver¹⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 87| CD

9/2

Goes well here and AW form figures read 112. Beat Lightning Charlie first time out last season and weighted to confirm those placings. 3-6 in this grade and has to be shortlisted with any market support likely to boost confidence.

Form: 0/13006-

(7)

Karijini¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Watson| OR: 85| BF| D

11/8

2-3 for this stable and just outstayed last time by a rejuvenated rival. This easier track will suit her style of racing and she could still be leniently handicapped judged on her conditions victory at Lingfield.

Form: 361-12

(5)

Tundra¹³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: William Carson| T: A Carson| OR: 82| D

25/1

Highly tried since winning a Lingfield maiden for Roger Varian. Acquired by new connections for 45,000 gns and has slipped to a more attractive mark. Won first time out last term and one to note in the market.

Form: 42/1907-

(4)

Vimy Ridge¹⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Fran Berry| T: A Bailey| OR: 81| D

16/1

Landed three races on turf last summer , but 1-23 on AW tracks and yet to make the frame here. This mark may be beyond him nowadays and there are better options available.

Form: 411058-

(6)

Higher Court²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: Emma Owen| OR: 80| CD

8/1

Gave 8lb to an in form rival who won next time when making all to complete a C&D hat-trick. Still to win in this grade and from a mark this high, but hard to dismiss in his current mood.

Form: 32811-1

(1)

Classic Pursuit^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Appleby| OR: 78| CD

14/1

Record of 7-60 but 0-9 in this grade and this is a strong race for the level. A 6L rout of his rivals in October has done little for his handicap mark and he may need to fall a little further in the weights.

Form: 19-3533

Non-Runners

(9)

Union Rose⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 6

T: R Harris J: Charles Bishop

Forecasts

Karijini (11/8), Little Palaver (9/2), Doc Sportello (11/2), Lightning Charlie (7/1), Higher Court (8/1), Classic Pursuit (14/1), Vimy Ridge (16/1), Union Rose (20/1), Tundra (25/1)

LITTLE PALAVER cam good at the first time of asking last season and looks well-handicapped in relation to Lightning Charlie who is 1lb worse off with 2L to find. Higher Court has won his last three over C&D and now needs to prove himself in higher grade, whilst another front-runner Karjini will be happier on this easier circuit having been outstayed by a well-handicapped 7f horse last time at Newcastle. Doc Sportello looked ready to win soon on his latest outing, whilst the likelihood of a strong pace will be helpful to a finisher such as Union Rose.