15:35 Kempton

Saturday 22 February 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0215:3516:1016:45

Betway Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 5.20s

Black Corton^t⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 159| CD

5/1

Ran well when finishing 9L fourth in a Listed handicap chase over 3m at Ascot (heavy) in December. Given a break since and is one for the shortlist having won over this C&D in the past.

Form: 21-2324

Talkischeap¹⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 157| DWS

20/1

Grade 3 handicap winner over 3m5f at Sandown (good) last April but was beaten 30L when finishing third in a four runner Listed chase over 3m at Sandown (soft) in November. Worth a check in the market on first start since wind surgery.

Form: 21251-3

Crievehill⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 154

25/1

Dual winner over fences this campaign including by 10L over an extended 3m1f at Haydock (good-to-soft) in November. Struggled at Ascot (3m, heavy) the following month and interesting to see how he fares on his return from a break.

Form: 644-119

Kildisart³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 151| C

10/1

Well held 38L sixth in a handicap chase over 2m5f at Ascot (heavy) last month. Market support would be notable racing off a mark 3lb higher than when winning at Aintree (3m1f, good) last April.

Form: 141-366

Double Shuffle^h⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 150| CD

12/1

C&D winner has finished held in two starts this campaign including when 37L last of five in a 2m5f chase at Ascot (heavy) in December. Form of that is working out well and he is one to note on his return to handicap company.

Form: 52P0-85

Romain De Senam^h,t²⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148

33/1

In good form last year including when winning by 13L over 2m5f at Newton Abbot (good-to-soft) in May. Well held fourth over the same C&D the following month and others make more appeal on his return from a break.

Form: 1412-14

Mister Malarky^p⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 147| C| D

9/1

Pulled up in a handicap chase over this trip at Ascot (heavy) in December when last in action. Market support would be notable having finished 11½L sixth in a valuable handicap chase at Newbury (3m2f, good-to-soft) prior to that.

Form: 142-06P

Adrien Du Pont^t⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145| CD

7/1

C&D winner finished a well beaten fourth in a conditions event at Ascot (2m5f, heavy) in December. Winner that day won in Grade 1 company recently and he is a leading contender racing off a mark 6lb lower than when third in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 7130-P4

Highway One O One²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: L P Aspell| T: C Gordon| OR: 144| C

10/1

Showed good form when finishing 1L third in a handicap chase over this C&D on soft ground in December. Pulled up in a Grade 3 handicap over an extended 2m4f at Cheltenham (soft) last month and better expected on this occasion.

Form: 3-2U43P

Sametegal^t⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141

9/1

Missed last season but has run well on both starts since returning this campaign including when 2L fourth over this C&D on soft ground in December. Notable runner with a highly promising conditional jockey in the saddle.

Form: 2338/24

Whatmore⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 138

7/1

Finished third on two of his three starts since returning from a break including when beaten 13½L in a 3m Grade 2 novice chase at Warwick (soft) last month. One for the shortlist on handicap debut.

Form: 72-1343

Just A Sting^p⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 137| CD

7/1

Has run well on both starts since cheekpieces have been applied most recently when recording his third victory over fences when winning by a head in a soft ground C&D event in December. Leading contender despite a 3lb rise in the weights.

Form: 120P-41

Azzerti^p1²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 135

25/1

Held in three starts since winning over 2m4f at Newbury (good-to-soft) in November including when 42L 12th in a 3m Listed handicap chase at Doncaster (good-to-soft) last month. Wears cheekpieces for the first time.

Form: 7P-1650

Dashing Perk⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: N de Boinville| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 131| BF| D

12/1

Followed up a 2m4f novices' handicap chase success at Sandown (good-to-soft) with a second over the same C&D early last month. Racing from out of the handicap and has stamina to prove on his first attempt at this distance.

Form: 84P/3-12

Forecasts

Black Corton (5/1), Whatmore (7/1), Adrien Du Pont (7/1), Just A Sting (7/1), Mister Malarky (9/1), Sametegal (9/1), Kildisart (10/1), Highway One O One (10/1), Double Shuffle (12/1), Dashing Perk (12/1), Talkischeap (20/1), Crievehill (25/1), Azzerti (25/1), Romain De Senam (33/1)

JUST A STING was a winner here on his most recent start and he is taken to follow up that victory with a success in this competitive Grade 3 handicap. The selection can get the better of Adrien Du Pont, placed in this race last year and who returns to handicap company having contested a conditions event last time out. Third place can go the way of Whatmore who is making his handicap debut having run well in a Graded novice race on his most recent start.