20:00 Kempton

Wednesday 26 February 2020

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

32Red.com Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 20:03 | Winning time: 1m 26.81s

(9)

Hieronymus^p³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: George Rooke⁽⁷⁾| T: George Baker| OR: 67| CD

2/1

Took advantage of a falling mark to shed his maiden tag at the 15th attempt when successful over C&D last month. Been stuck up 4lb for that, but apprentice jockey negates that rise in the weights. Claims if in similar form.

Form: 2859-01

(8)

Furqaan²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: Ian Williams| OR: 65

16/1

She has evidently been difficult to train as her profile would suggest. She should improve from her recent seasonal return to action. Shown fair form in defeat in novice company so may improve for the switch to handicaps. Market check needed.

Form: 3/4-5

(2)

Waqaas²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: M Dwyer| T: M D I Usher| OR: 65| D

8/1

Yard/jockey both going through dry spell, but he did outrun his large odds (66-1) when fourth over C&D (7f; standard to slow) earlier this month. Dropped another 2lb, and could run another big race if in the same form.

Form: 85/09-04

(10)

Knockmaole Boy^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Jean-Rene Auvray| OR: 64| D

100/1

Impossible to fancy given his recent record, including last time out when he was tailed off at Wolverhampton (7f; standard) on his seasonal reappearance. Majorly poor over jumps prior to that, and the yard have gone 227 days since their last winner.

Form: 91096/6

(3)

Rich Approach^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: J D Bethell| OR: 63| D

10/1

Unable to build upon promising seasonal return to action when only fifth at Newcastle (7f; standard) in a slightly higher grade last time out. Was far from disgraced, so is probably worth giving another chance to.

Form: 5769-25

(6)

Mr Mac^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Charles Bishop| T: P Hedger| OR: 62| CD

16/1

C&D winner whose losing streak is beginning to mount up. Only managed to beat two rivals in this grade when seventh of nine at this track earlier this month. Back down to his last winning mark, but recent signs have been far from encouraging.

Form: 700-367

(4)

Briyouni²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: R M Beckett| OR: 62| CD

8/1

Last taste of success came over C&D just over a year ago. 1lb below that mark now, and this is easier than his most recent task when fourth behind an odds-on favourite (4/7f) at Lingfield (7f; standard). Yard form is a concern though.

Form: 1860-84

(1)

Phoenix Star^h,t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S De Sousa| T: S C Williams| OR: 60| C

5/2

Sole win on the AW was achieved over 6f at this track back in November. In and out of form most recently, but latest effort wasn't a bad one. Needs to build upon that, but this isn't the strongest of races on paper.

Form: 13-5274

(5)

Kodiline^v⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: P D Evans| OR: 60| D

25/1

Not beaten far behind Penarth Pier and Fly The Nest (reoppose in the 6.00pm) when fourth over C&D nine days ago. That was an improvement on his midfield run at Southwell (7f; standard) prior to that. Patchy overall record but he is capable.

Form: 109-164

(7)

Comeonfeeltheforce^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: L Carter| OR: 60| CD

16/1

Step up in trip has failed to yield any improvement out of her the last twice, and the manner of her defeats of late have been concerning. Drops in trip from 1m3f to 7f and has placed form at this track. Others hold more convincing claims overall.

Form: 6628-78

(12)

Latent Heat²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: A W Carroll| OR: 59

33/1

May not have enjoyed the surface at Southwell (7f; standard) when he ran too bad to be true there last time out. Handicap/stable debut prior to that was very promising when he wasn't beaten far into fourth. Not one to completely dismiss just yet.

Form: 7904-0

Non-Runners

(11)

Avenue Of Stars²

Weight: 8-10| Age: 7

T: M Appleby J: Angus Villiers

Forecasts

Hieronymus (2/1), Phoenix Star (5/2), Briyouni (8/1), Waqaas (8/1), Rich Approach (10/1), Avenue Of Stars (10/1), Furqaan (16/1), Comeonfeeltheforce (16/1), Mr Mac (16/1), Kodiline (25/1), Latent Heat (33/1), Knockmaole Boy (100/1)

This is an extremely weak race on paper. Furqaan is intriguing as she makes her handicap debut. This is particularly weaker than the contests she has been running in previously. Waqaas threatened to take advantage of his dwindling mark when fourth last time, as too did Avenue Of Stars who should appreciate the return to this trip. Recent winning form tends to be hard to come by in these races and with his jockeys claim taken into account, HIERONYMUS is effectively 3lb well in after breaking his duck last time out. He is taken to follow-up that success ahead of Rich Approach who has posted a pair of encouraging efforts since returning to the track this year.