19:55 Kempton

Wednesday 22 May 2019

All17:5518:2518:5519:2519:5520:2520:55

32Red Handicap

Off time: 19:56 | Winning time: 2m 18.61s

(7)

Koeman¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: David Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 92| CD

7/1

Tough sort with a 3-7 AW record and an identical strike rate in Class 3 contests. Ran a blinder on comeback from a nine month break following a gelding operation. Probably needs to win this to get in Royal Ascot's Duke Of Edinburgh.

Form: 47414-3

(8)

North Face^p,t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: G Mosse| T: M Botti| OR: 92

20/1

Ex-Ballydoyle winner who was placed in Listed company. Has done little since arriving in Newmarket, but mark has started to ease and yard are in better form lately.

Form: 265-706

(5)

Sleeping Lion²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 91| BF| CD

3/1

Dual winner last year who found Koeman too good for him at Ascot last July and is 10lb worse off here. Has scope to improve and his reappearance was reassuring, but that is still a lot to find.

Form: 71134-2

(4)

Lexington Empire³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: D R Lanigan| OR: 89

9/2

Could not have been more impressive at Chelmsford a month ago and the handicapper has reacted accordingly. The runner-up scored by 5L next time so there is every chance there is a lot more to come.

Form: 13131-1

(10)

Landue¹⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Hayley Turner| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 89| C

16/1

4-9 on AW and 3-4 under today's booked rider. Untested at this level and back from a break and 11lb above his last winning mark, but usually runs well when supported and a market check looks advisable.

Form: 111725-

(1)

Western Duke⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85| CD

16/1

Record of 2-20 and winless since September 2017. Third in a similar race here in November off this mark and returns to the Flat having failed to adapt to hurdling. Looks the type who needs a lot to go right for him and others may be more reliable.

Form: 549372-

(9)

Harbour Breeze²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Watson| T: L Wadham| OR: 83

7/1

Battled well to score at Newcastle and he has the scope to defy a rise in the weights. In a more competitive race here though and he will need to settle better in a race with no obvious pacemaker.

Form: 5/3-301

(2)

Rock Force²⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: A King| OR: 82

5/1

Maiden who has run some excellent races in defeat in good company, although he has been found wanting in a finish. Has been gelded since his last run and, if more mature for it, could prove up to the task.

Form: 232204-

(6)

Ilhabela Fact²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: A W Carroll| OR: 80| CD

14/1

Has registered all four successes at this venue, but handicapper has been in charge lately and he may be aiming too high here.

Form: 721157

(3)

Wimpole Hall^p⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: W Jarvis| OR: 80| C

20/1

3-16 on AW and placed a further seven times. Has a good record when the champion is on board and usually gives a good account when allotted a mark similar to today's.

Form: 363-363

Non-Runners

(11)

Big Kitten²⁰

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: W J Haggas J: James Doyle

Forecasts

Sleeping Lion (3/1), Lexington Empire (9/2), Big Kitten (9/2), Rock Force (5/1), Harbour Breeze (7/1), Koeman (7/1), Ilhabela Fact (14/1), Western Duke (16/1), Landue (16/1), Wimpole Hall (20/1), North Face (20/1)

Plenty of possibilities here with the improving Lexington Empire upped in class after easily disposing of his rivals last time and the form has been boosted since. Wimpole Hall has a lot to recommend him, whilst Rock Force may do better having been gelded. Big Kitten went close at Chelmsford and has to be respected, but preference is for the tough and consistent KOEMAN who holds Sleeping Lion on 2018 form and who will have to win this to guarantee a place for his intended target at Royal Ascot. He produced another career best on his return from a nine month break at Newmarket and does not need to come on much for the run to be hard to beat.