18:15 Kempton

Friday 13 April 2018

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

Better Odds With Matchbook Handicap

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 1m 38.48s

(9)

Tai Hang Dragon¹⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 85| C

33/1

All her best form over shorter than this. Seems to stay this far but probably going further than her optimum here and still 10lb higher than her last winning mark.

Form: 414085-

(13)

Mudallel²⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 84| BF| CD

10/1

Didn't perform quite as badly as his form figure suggests when beaten favourite over C&D last time, but the handicapper is still possibly in charge for now.

Form: 444117-

(2)

Lacan²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Shepherd| T: B R Johnson| OR: 84| CD

9/1

Has turned a corner since the end of last year, with this trip on Polytrack really seeming to suit him. He is also well-drawn and a 2lb rise for a recent Chelmsford victory is a fair one.

Form: 514-121

(7)

Oud Metha Bridge²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 83| BF| CD

8/1

In good form recently, having not been out the front two on his last three visits here, including a victory on his penultimate start. Up again in the weights but not out of it by that measure.

Form: 478-212

(14)

Outer Space^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 83| C

33/1

Has bumped in to a couple of useful performers over 7f on his last two starts, and did very well to outrun his odds for the first of those two races. Wide draw is a negative, however.

Form: 3-41134

(8)

Samharry¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 82| BF

9/4

Beaten favourite the last twice but was unlucky last time and has top connections/breeding. Still on a potentially lenient handicap mark as he returns to this sphere.

Form: 1/9-2

(3)

Pike Corner Cross⁴⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: S De Sousa| T: E De Giles| OR: 82| CD

20/1

This is possibly easier than the Newcastle handicap he was well-beaten in back in December, but though the jockey booking is notable he makes only limited appeal off the same mark.

Form: 675110/

(11)

Dark Alliance¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Edward Greatrex| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 82| D

20/1

Consistent sort who almost always runs his race, but has shot up the weights as a result and now has to contend with a new 4lb rise in the handicap. Still can't be ruled out given how he's progressed.

Form: 113131

(5)

Fire Tree¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 80| D

10/1

Form has tailed off somewhat over his past few starts, and needs an unlikely revival now on his seasonal reappearance to have any sort of chance.

Form: 511900-

(6)

Cainhoe Star^b1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: William Carson| T: A Carson| OR: 79| C| D

10/1

Course winner over 7f but also stays this far and interesting to see connections apply blinkers to him for the first time. Unlucky in second last time and should go close.

Form: 84-2432

(12)

Sir Roderic²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: B R Millman| OR: 79| D

16/1

No win since completing a hat-trick in July 2016, and failed to impress when down the field in the Spring Mile; has had a wind operation since.

Form: 03800-0

(1)

Spirit Of Belle^b¹⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: P & O Cole| OR: 79| C

12/1

Hat-trick seeker who won both his preceding two races over 7f. Has a little something to prove over this longer trip but gives the impression of a horse very much on the up.

Form: 273911-

(10)

Kingston Kurrajong²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: M Harley| T: W J Knight| OR: 78| CD

10/1

C&D winner last time out but hadn't been running particularly well prior and is up 3lb now in what looks like a tougher race. Others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 3205-71

(4)

Sir Plato²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: B R Millman| OR: 78| CD

50/1

Last of all on seasonal reappearance at Kempton last time out. Better than he showed there but Oisin Murphy now rides Sir Roderic.

Form: 51776-0

Forecasts

Samharry (9/4), Oud Metha Bridge (8/1), Lacan (9/1), Kingston Kurrajong (10/1), Mudallel (10/1), Cainhoe Star (10/1), Fire Tree (10/1), Spirit Of Belle (12/1), Sir Roderic (16/1), Pike Corner Cross (20/1), Dark Alliance (20/1), Tai Hang Dragon (33/1), Outer Space (33/1), Sir Plato (50/1)

A few of these arrive in good form but there is a big sense there could be more to come from SAMHARRY. With a nice pedigree and top connections, his career hasn't been completely smooth so far but he has demonstrated that he has ability and should be able to progress further, especially at this level of competition. He can see off the challenge of the in-form Lacan and the horse that beat him over C&D recently, Oud Metha Bridge.