15:35 Kempton

Saturday 23 February 2019

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

888Sport Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 57.45s

Double Shuffle^h⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 154| CD

8/1

Often saves best form for this venue including second in this in 2017 and career highlight when second in King George the same year. Fifth in this season's King George most recently but with handicap now falling he has genuine claims.

Form: 274-F25

Adrien Du Pont^t⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 151| CD

11/2

Gained second career chase win here over C&D latest and won quite impressively in that similarly competitive contest. 7lb rise raises the stakes but may well be improving and form of this yard quite exceptional.

Form: 32F-471

Modus²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148| C

12/1

Winner here over 2m4½f last season started this campaign with success at Cheltenham (2m). Jumped poorly at Ascot next but better effort since at Doncaster. First try over 3m here and not often looked likely to stay it.

Form: 185-103

Rather Be⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148| BF

13/2

Good novice campaign culminated in head second in Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. Brought down first time out and fifth since in valuable Cheltenham contest. First time over 3m but expected to stay and respected.

Form: 1U12-B5

Talkischeap²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 145| BF| D

4/1

Novice bumped into subsequent Dual Grade One winner in first two chase races before winning match at Doncaster. Second over C&D since under a penalty another solid effort and very interesting in first handicap.

Form: 1P-3212

Catamaran Du Seuil^b⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 141| D

20/1

Previous heavy ground winner won on good first time out at Wetherby. Fell next before struggling at Cheltenham. Wincanton second latest a better effort but in a less competitive race and overall may be high enough in handicap.

Form: 21-1F82

Romain De Senam^h,t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137

8/1

Gained a confidence boosting success latest when dropped markedly in class in a four-runner Taunton class 3. Pulled up previously and struggled in general in such contests so no surprise Cobden prefers Adrien Du Pont.

Form: 7-43UP1

Glen Rocco⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford| OR: 137| CD

4/1

Improving novice took form to new levels latest when upped to 3m for first time over C&D as he bolted up by 23L despite being heavily eased. 13lb rise for that but easier winners of handicaps are rarely seen so every chance to follow up.

Form: 3-U1321

Didero Vallis⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 136

16/1

Only won once for Willie Mullins but two out of three for this yard having won at Carlisle and Haydock most recently. Both of those wins on soft and at around 2m4f so different test here but one major positive is his jumping.

Form: 3P-3711

Walt^t,v⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 134

14/1

33L behind Glen Rocco in November but won readily next at Taunton in a first-time visor. Fair second next again in that headgear so comes here in good order but this looks a much tougher ask.

Form: 206512

Forecasts

Talkischeap (4/1), Glen Rocco (4/1), Adrien Du Pont (11/2), Rather Be (13/2), Double Shuffle (8/1), Romain De Senam (8/1), Modus (12/1), Walt (14/1), Didero Vallis (16/1), Catamaran Du Seuil (20/1)

GLEN ROCCO was hugely impressive over C&D last season when winning by 23L and surely value for plenty more. Up 13lb for that and in a tougher contest he is nevertheless hard to oppose and gets the vote today. Rather Be has been a little frustrating this season but there have been valid excuses and he is worth serious consideration here upped to 3m for the first time. Talkischeap like the selection is a novice seemingly on the up and he too merits serious respect.