17:40 Kempton

Friday 12 April 2019

All16:3517:1017:4018:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

32Red Handicap

Off time: 17:43 | Winning time: 1m 37.28s

(10)

King's Slipper¹⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 87| CD

9/4

C&D winner on AW bow back in August and ended last year with a neck defeat here from 7lb higher mark in October. Gone up another 3lb for that effort, but likely to remain competitive.

Form: 152182-

(5)

Jellmood^t⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S W Kelly| T: C Gordon| OR: 85

33/1

Mainly campaigned at 7f but does stay this far. Needs to be forgiven a poor run here in January over C&D when last spotted, but has won fresh before.

Form: 59724-5

(6)

Medieval^b¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: P & O Cole| OR: 85

11/2

Smart performer early in his career, some consistent efforts during 2018 without winning, though also some poor runs. 1lb below previous win-mark here but has tended to need a run.

Form: 372595-

(13)

Key Player^b1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 83| D

25/1

Career has been stop-start so far, middle run of three in latest 2019 sequence would give him claims having finished close second in Wolverhampton handicap over 1m1½f but unable to replicate either side. Drops in trip, blinkers tried.

Form: 120-828

(7)

Dragons Voice¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D Menuisier| OR: 82| CD

8/1

Has 5-15 career strike rate, including sole AW win over this C&D May last year off a mark 4lb lower. Turf winner in September and should be capable. Trainer had first 2019 winner in France on Wednesday.

Form: 561154-

(8)

La Maquina^t³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Nicola Currie| T: George Baker| OR: 82| C

5/1

Some promising efforts without winning last year and appeared all the better for a wind operation when scoring on return over 7f here last month (form looks strong). Up 5lb for that and should relish extra furlong.

Form: 2/4647-1

(14)

Merchant Of Venice³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: George Wood| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 82| CD

8/1

Two wins from three starts in novice company and made winning start in a C&D handicap last month in smooth enough fashion. 3lb rise looks fair and should be in the mix again

Form: 91-11

(1)

Capriolette¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Liam Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 81| D

25/1

Filly picked up a minor prize on the AW at Lingfield in January over this trip, before disappointing when favourite on handicap bow here over 7f next time. Another weak finishing effort on turf at Doncaster since and questions to be answered now.

Form: 4/2-190

(2)

Divine Messenger^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: Emma Owen| OR: 80| CD

9/1

Progressive over the winter and cheekpieces appear to have eked out a bit more this year. C&D winner in January (rated 68) and went in again at Lingfield over a mile last month. Rated 3lb higher but Seamus Cronin (3-11 lately) negates that.

Form: 7D-1631

(4)

Reckless Endeavour¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 80

16/1

Remains unproven over this trip and more poor efforts solid ones of late, slipping towards the sort of mark from which he might be dangerous.

Form: 7-53466

(3)

Rock Icon¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Philip Prince| T: J Hughes| OR: 78| D

50/1

Bath winner last June, but has been unable to add to that success off higher marks on turf/AW. Sharper here on second start after winter layoff, but still needs to bring a bit more to be winning off this mark.

Form: 1325-07

(11)

Sir Plato¹⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: K T O'Neill| T: B R Millman| OR: 78| CD

25/1

Gained seventh career success latest when narrowly scoring at Ffos Las in a 1m Class 4 handicap in September. 1-4 on the AW, winning over C&D in March 2017 from lower rating (57) and faces tough task on seasonal bow it seems.

Form: 054216-

(9)

Biotic¹⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Ellie Mackenzie⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 75| C| D

100/1

Tends to fare best on turf, though has 2-19 record on the AW, with successes here (over 6f/1m3f). Three turf wins last year, though ended seemingly in handicapper's clutch. One of two for trainer in this line-up, market may split them.

Form: 413560-

(12)

Directory¹⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: L Morris| T: J M P Eustace| OR: 73| CD

16/1

Yet to finish outside the first three in five visits here with a pair of wins over the C&D, including when last spotted in the autumn. 5lb higher mark on return demands a career-best.

Form: 613331-

Forecasts

King's Slipper (9/4), La Maquina (5/1), Medieval (11/2), Merchant Of Venice (8/1), Dragons Voice (8/1), Divine Messenger (9/1), Reckless Endeavour (16/1), Directory (16/1), Key Player (25/1), Capriolette (25/1), Sir Plato (25/1), Jellmood (33/1), Rock Icon (50/1), Biotic (100/1)

King's Slipper has shown a liking for this place and is respected, though he's gone up 3lb after finishing second on his final 2018 run here. The market should reveal his readiness for the return. Merchant Of Venice is on the shortlist alongside January C&D winner Divine Messenger, the beneficiary of in-form claimer Seamus Cronin's help now, but the form LA MAQUINA's win last month over 7f here is working out nicely. That was his first outing after a wind op and there's a good chance of more to come, ensuring he gets a confident nod.