19:45 Kempton

Wednesday 1 July 2020

All16:4017:1017:4018:1018:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Unibet Casino Deposit 10 Get 40 Bonus Handicap

Off time: 19:47 | Winning time: 1m 37.80s

(2)

Borderforce¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Cieren Fallon| T: George Baker| OR: 82| D

50/1

Had last season cut short with only the two starts, and resumed career with another disappointing effort when 10th of 12 at Newbury (1m; good) in this grade. 10lb below last winning mark as he makes British AW debut. Risky proposition.

Form: 680/74-0

(11)

Kings Highway¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Levey| T: I Furtado| OR: 80| CD

22/1

Produced a well-below par effort when failing to get involved over C&D recently. Did make winning handicap debut over C&D on sole start in 2019, but is on a retrieval mission after laboured run when last seen.

Form: 217/1-0

(4)

Dargel²⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 78| BF| CDWS

9/2

One of the more consistent runners in this field and has had wind surgery. Makes return from 240-day break, but the form of his third over C&D in November has been franked in no uncertain terms with the winner going on to notch a hat-trick.

Form: 112333-

(6)

Merchant Of Venice¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 78| CD

10/3

Eased down on return to turf when beaten a long way at Newmarket (7f; soft) in small-field event. Shouldn't be written off though given he is a dual C&D scorer and ran well on reappearance at Newcastle (7f; standard).

Form: 5-43545

(8)

Image Of The Moon^p¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: S L Keightley| OR: 77| CD

25/1

Dual C&D winner who may well have just needed the run on her reappearance at this track 11 days ago. However, she was quiet on her final start of 2019 too so does need to step up considerably to play leading role.

Form: 61148-8

(12)

Fast Dancer¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: George Downing| T: J Tuite| OR: 77| D

125/1

Was entitled to need the run when down the field over C&D on his return from a year-and-a-half off the track. Still has plenty to prove and record of 0-4 on the AW also does little to encourage. Best watched.

Form: 38630/0

(7)

Secret Return²²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: William Carson| T: R Brisland| OR: 77| D

33/1

Makes seasonal debut for new yard after eight-months off the track. Was in quiet form at the end of last year which has subsequently led to her dropping down to her last winning mark. Readily opposed unless market suggests otherwise.

Form: 818988-

(3)

Leader Writer¹⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J Ferguson| OR: 77| D

10/1

Not looked keen on the job on each of his previous two starts. Obviously has the ability as shown when winning at Windsor (1m; soft) but that victory came in wholly different circumstances. Others look more reliable.

Form: 9461R-0

(13)

Gossiping²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: S W Kelly| T: G & J Moore| OR: 77| BF| CD

14/1

Well-backed (5/4f) once again but failed to back up previous C&D win when he ran no sort of race to finish seventh over 7f at this track recently. Stable form is a huge concern, and he is opposed unless supported in the betting.

Form: 568017

(9)

River Dawn^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: David Probert| T: P & O Cole| OR: 76| BF| D

6/1

Posted solid comeback effort at Pontefract (1m; good) when third. Return to AW is a plus given he notched a quick double on the polytrack at Lingfield in February. Can progress further and looks a major player.

Form: 126-113

(5)

Givinitsum²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Georgia Dobie⁽⁵⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 75

16/1

Failed to reproduce the sort of form he showed at Wolverhampton (1m1f; standard) two starts ago when making return from short break at Newmarket (1m2f; good to firm) when he beat one rival to prevent him finishing last. Claims if back on track.

Form: 4047-30

(10)

Jack D'Or¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: E Walker| OR: 74| CD

5/2

1-2 at this track and not beaten far behind an odds-on shot at Goodwood (1m; good to firm) on his first run for eight months when third. Is unexposed on the AW and jockey booking another positive.

Form: 35315-3

Non-Runners

(1)

George Of Hearts²⁴²

Weight: 9-8| Age: 5

T: George Baker J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Jack D'Or (5/2), Merchant Of Venice (10/3), Dargel (9/2), River Dawn (6/1), George Of Hearts (7/1), Leader Writer (10/1), Gossiping (14/1), Givinitsum (16/1), Kings Highway (22/1), Image Of The Moon (25/1), Secret Return (33/1), Borderforce (50/1), Fast Dancer (125/1)

It would be dangerous to fully dismiss Merchant Of Venice as he returns to the AW at a track he always tends to run well at. The form of the race River Dawn contested when third has since been given a boost with the second winning since, & he is likely to be a better proposition on this surface too. Dargel is likely to be a short price which is off-putting on his first run after a fairly decent break, wind surgery & being gelded. His recent third behind Rangali Island over C&D does look particularly strong form. We'll go with JACK D'OR who rarely runs a bad race, is a C&D winner, and has fitness on his side after running respectably at Goodwood last month.