19:45 Kempton

Wednesday 13 February 2019

All17:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

32Red Casino Handicap

Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 3m 29.66s

(2)

Conkering Hero^b1⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: J Tuite| OR: 76| CD

25/1

C&D winner last year. when 12lb lower, but also won from just 1lb lower since then. Well held after a break last time, so finds himself having a bit to prove.

Form: 114308-

(5)

Moon of Baroda^b¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: David Probert| T: C Hills| OR: 76

6/4

Stayed on well to score over an extended 2m at Wolverhampton last time, for which he is up just 1lb. Still open to further improvement over this trip, and acted well enough on this surface when previously tried. Claims.

Form: 7325-41

(6)

Akavit³¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: E De Giles| OR: 72| C| D

40/1

Has won here over shorter in the past, but is without success since a purple patch in June 2017, having been limited to just two runs since. Well held in both of those last spring and looks best watched on this reappearance.

Form: 2110/48-

(9)

Le Torrent²⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: S Dow| OR: 71| CD

14/1

Scored over C&D last spring, following up at Lingfield, when 3lb lower. Well held at Goodwood when last seen in May. Goes well fresh, so has to be taken seriously on his return, as he is not yet exposed.

Form: 116/110-

(8)

Mere Anarchy^p⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁵⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 70| CD

14/1

C&D winner in 2017, when 4lb lower. Has only raced over hurdles in four runs since, performing consistently in that code. Respected on his return to this sphere.

Form: 77661/

(1)

Colwood²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Eddery| OR: 67| D

5/1

Scored over a marathon trip at Southwell in December, and was beaten just 1L after a 6lb rise to this mark at Chelmsford last time. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 07041-3

(4)

Houlton^p,t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Gabriele Malune⁽³⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 70

11/4

Arrives in good form, having won at Chelmsford (1m5½f) in November, and went close from this 6lb higher mark here (1m4f) last time. Shapes as though he may well get this longer trip. Claims.

Form: 36331-2

(3)

Galileo's Spear^h,t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 66

9/1

1-26 so far. Has been running well in defeat this winter, but his cards are on the table and it would be a surprise if he proved good enough to win this. Can't rule him out of the frame, however.

Form: 66423-3

(7)

Beau Knight⁴⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Rossa Ryan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 60| BF

100/1

Over four years since he won a Lingfield maiden (1m2f). Not seen since a Uttoxeter hurdle in November 2017, and looks best watched against some in-form rivals after such a layoff.

Form: 359260/

Forecasts

Moon of Baroda (6/4), Houlton (11/4), Colwood (5/1), Galileo's Spear (9/1), Le Torrent (14/1), Mere Anarchy (14/1), Conkering Hero (25/1), Akavit (40/1), Beau Knight (100/1)

The unexposed Moon of Baroda looks capable of another very competitive effort here, with Houlton another short-listed on this step up in trip. However, LE TORRENT has a very good record when fresh, is also unexposed, and is proven over this far, so he gets the vote. Mere Anarchy and Galileo's Spear are not ruled out of the prize money.