19:30 Kempton

Thursday 28 February 2019

All16:5017:2017:5518:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

32Red Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 2m 19.31s

(4)

Villette^p1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: A Kirby| T: D K Ivory| OR: 86| CD

5/1

C&D winner in November but found life tougher from a 5lb higher mark the last two times he's raced. Slightly better here latest though and not discounted in his current frame of mind. Personal best still required.

Form: 71516-3

(7)

Thaqaffa^h²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: T P Queally| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 80| CD

33/1

Held every chance until fading inside the final furlong over C&D latest; finished well adrift of Villette and faces a tough ask to reverse the form despite being 1lb better off at the weights.

Form: 1632-38

(3)

Valentino Dancer¹²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 80

6/1

Won on the turf from a 5lb lower mark last summer but not been seen out since a below par run here in October. Debuts for a new yard and is probably best watched.

Form: 516039

(9)

Escapability¹²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: A King| OR: 80

10/1

Still a maiden but ran in better races than this for Jessica Harrington. Posted a sterling effort in a hot handicap at Doncaster when last seen and would be a big threat if able to reproduce on debut for his new yard. Shortlisted.

Form: 252672-

(8)

Lawn Ranger¹⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: M J Attwater| OR: 79

7/1

Not won since his debut as a juvenile and taken until now to shrug off a tough looking mark. Been off since October but ran respectably over C&D when last seen. Place claims if able to step things up a notch.

Form: 764305-

(2)

El Borracho^h¹³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: S Dow| OR: 78

8/1

Usually runs well at this course (been placed four times here already) and is surprisingly 9lb well in according to his last rating on turf. Been off since October and difficult to know what to expect. The betting can guide.

Form: 272226-

(6)

Cosmic Landscape⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Shepherd| T: W Jarvis| OR: 78

8/1

Debuts for a new yard here but is still unexposed. The gelding was a narrow winner of a novice stakes at Wolverhampton last month but entirely feasible he's got a bit more to offer. Worth a betting check.

Form: 06-1

(5)

Ilhabela Fact²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: A W Carroll| OR: 76| CD

11/4

Raced exclusively at this course since he arrived on these shores from France and has, to his credit, amassed three wins and three placed efforts from eight starts. Races from just 2lb above his last winning mark and has to be respected. Player.

Form: 131-721

(10)

Voi^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: M Dwyer| T: C Allen| OR: 72| CD

20/1

Winner over C&D last time out but has more to do from a 3lb higher mark and is also up in class.

Form: 5454-51

(1)

Ice Canyon^h³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: E J Walsh| T: W M Brisbourne| OR: 70

10/1

Has gone well over C&D in the past and noted that the gelding comes here in good form. Has a stiffer test in this company though. Never won from a mark this high before.

Form: 0042-12

Forecasts

Ilhabela Fact (11/4), Villette (5/1), Valentino Dancer (6/1), Lawn Ranger (7/1), Cosmic Landscape (8/1), El Borracho (8/1), Escapability (10/1), Ice Canyon (10/1), Voi (20/1), Thaqaffa (33/1)

His fitness has to be taken on trust, but ESCAPABILITY has left one top yard to join another since he was last seen out and may be up to taking this in his stride if he can build on what was a rock solid performance in a better race when he was last seen in action. Villette is respected despite top weight and can give the selection plenty to think about, while El Borracho and Ilhabela Fact both raise their game when racing at this course and are others to consider as being capable of at least making the frame.