19:30 Kempton

Tuesday 4 February 2020

All16:5017:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

32Red Casino Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 2m 22.02s

(4)

Allegiant⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: S C Williams| OR: 79

13/2

Effective at this sort of trip on turf but best efforts registered with at least a bit of give underfoot; the gelding is 0-4 on the AW and very possible he'll be sharper for a run having been off since October. Still 3lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 312607-

(2)

Starfighter^p1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: L Morris| T: E Walker| OR: 79| BF

11/4

Won over this trip at Salisbury in September and only lightly raced since. Posted a very respectable effort on his AW debut at Lingfield last month and interesting to note cheekpieces are applied this time. One to take seriously at this level.

Form: 22160-2

(1)

Desert Friend^h1¹⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 78| C

10/1

Justified favouritism on his final start for Mark Johnston with a 1m win at this course in October 2018. Only seen out twice for his current yard since then. Gelded in the intervening period and a bit to prove now tried in a hood over a new trip.

Form: 141/56-

(6)

Grey D'Ars³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 78

7/1

All three previous career wins gained in France but showed ability in a handful of starts for his current yard last year. Form reached a plateau lately and might need a bit more assistance from the handicapper even though he's been nudged down 2lb.

Form: 82439-6

(3)

Ilhabela Fact¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: A W Carroll| OR: 76| CD

7/4

Previous C&D winner who seemed to appreciate the return to this distance last time out. He's also back on a winning mark and goes well at this time of year. Lots in his favour and is dangerous to rule out.

Form: 57973-2

(7)

Argus^t¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 75| CD

33/1

Well beaten over 2m here last time out and has to be noted his best form has been posted over longer trips than he encounters here; no issues with the Polytrack but others may be sharper over the distance.

Form: 7414-48

(5)

Sea Sculpture²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: William Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 75

17/2

Distinct promise on debut as a juvenile but wasn't seen again until making a winning start as a three-year-old last April. Well held in only his second start in a handicap when sixth of seven on Fibresand last month; more now needed.

Form: 3/145-6

Forecasts

Ilhabela Fact (7/4), Starfighter (11/4), Allegiant (13/2), Grey D'Ars (7/1), Sea Sculpture (17/2), Desert Friend (10/1), Argus (33/1)

The cheekpieces might aid STARFIGHTER in his attempt to build on what was a very promising return to action at Lingfield last month. The gelding stayed on well near the finish that day and might well have got even closer to the winner had he wound up his effort a little sooner in the home straight. Ilhabela Fact is a previous C&D winner that has little to find to get seriously competitive in this company, while Allegiant also caught the eye last time out and he too can go close now he's getting the hang of things on the All Weather surfaces.