17:30 Warwick

Sunday 11 March 2018

All14:2014:5015:2515:5516:3017:0017:30

Kerry Burton Memorial Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 4m 22.37s

Imperial Knight²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N D Fehily| T: O Murphy

9/2

Produced a promising first effort in bumpers when third at Fakenham on a track that he looked ill-suited to having a pedigree that screams stamina. From a yard that have done well this year he's well up to winning a race like this.

Form: 3

J'Ai Froid

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case

16/1

Debutante from a yard that have the odd bumper winner with a pedigree that is laden with stamina he's a half-brother to the useful hurdler/smart chaser Gallant Oscar. His dam was unraced but had some useful relations; worth a glance in the market.

Form:

Milanstorm²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

6/1

Offered something to work in from his debut at Towcester finishing second behind a winner who cost £380,000. There was an element of picking up the pieces there but can be expected to build on that here.

Form: 2

Worthabobortwo^h1²⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin

100/1

The most experienced in this field having had a couple of runs but he's not really shaped with that much promise in either. Now hooded for the first time he looks as though he'll be outclassed again here.

Form: PP-85

Elite Garde

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber

4/1

From a yard not known for their bumper winner (0/6 this season) he cost €40,000 as a three-year-old. The fourth foal of a dam who was unraced but a half- sister to winners he looks one of the lesser lights in this.

Form:

Melchior King

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

5/2

This yard have been a little quiet this season but they do have a good bumper strike rate currently (32%). Costing £40,000 as a three-year-old he makes his debut but given his connections he's one to note.

Form:

Nobby⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| D

3/1

A winner of his only point-to point by 1L at Barbury he now makes his Rules debut for a yard who are always to be respected in bumpers. He's a brother to a 2m hurdle winner and a half-brother to three Flat winners; an interesting debutante.

Form: 1

Non-Runners

Clondaw Anchor¹⁰⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Melchior King (5/2), Nobby (3/1), Clondaw Anchor (7/2), Elite Garde (4/1), Imperial Knight (9/2), Milanstorm (6/1), J'Ai Froid (16/1), Worthabobortwo (100/1)

The closing bumper and it doesn’t look a bad heat with some top stables represented and Imperial Knight looks to be the pick of those that have had a run so far with this more galloping track looking to suit him more than Fakenham. Clondaw Anchor from the Skelton barn makes the short list and the trainer often brings some of his better bumper recruits here. NOBBY is the pick though having already won a point-to-point and looking to have a pedigree that suggests he has a bit of pace also and his yard have a good record in these events. Melchior King is another making his debut who should be watched in the market with Milanstorm adding some depth to this event.