15:55 Kempton

Saturday 26 March 2022

All13:3014:0514:4015:2015:5516:3017:00

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Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 1m 11.06s

(7)

Royal Crusade^p⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Mitchell| T: C Appleby| OR: 105| CD

9/4

C&D winner. Latest win here in October. Respectable 1¼ lengths second of 16 to Mutaraffa in listed race (7/2) at Meydan (5f, good) 71 days ago. Back up in trip. Very much one to consider back in handicap company.

Form: 75731-2

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(3)

Ejtilaab²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Shepherd| T: C Fellowes| OR: 105| D

5/2

Good 1¾ lengths third of 10 to Eastern World in Mahab Al Shimaal at Meydan (6f, 10/1) 21 days ago. Returns to Britain with his mark looking about right.

Form: 1P3-553

(4)

The Last Lion⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97| CD

25/1

First run since leaving Mark Johnston when last of 4 in minor event at Newcastle (8f, 9/1) 83 days ago. Could get back on track over more suitable distance.

Form: 121/03-4

(8)

Tommy de Vito⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: L Morris| T: C Hills| OR: 90| CD

11/2

C&D winner. One win from 1 run last year. 11/4, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Southwell (6.1f) 58 days ago, slowly away. Open to further progress, and could land the hat-trick if the pace is solid.

Form: 2135/1-1

(1)

Rathbone⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Megan Nicholls| T: K A Ryan| OR: 90| BF| D

14/1

11/4, fourth of 6 in handicap at Newcastle (6f) 44 days ago. Well treated on his best form and shaped as if he'd come on for his latest effort, so merits consideration.

Form: 29008-4

(5)

Repartee²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Hayley Turner| T: A W Carroll| OR: 90| D

40/1

First run since leaving Kevin Ryan when fifth of 6 in minor event at Southwell (7.1f, 66/1) 23 days ago, not knocked about. Makes polytrack debut. Something to find on form.

Form: 5/5708-5

(6)

Papa Stour^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: Lorenzo Atzori⁽⁷⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 88| CD

18/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in February. Third of 5 in handicap at Lingfield (7f, AW, 13/2) 14 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Should remain competitive.

Form: 452-113

(2)

Whittle Le Woods^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen| T: M Appleby| OR: 86| D

7/2

Six wins from 16 Flat runs. 4/1, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (6.1f) 14 days ago, just holding on. More on his plate bidding for the hat-trick, but he should give his all.

Form: 214211

Forecasts

Royal Crusade (9/4), Ejtilaab (5/2), Whittle Le Woods (7/2), Tommy de Vito (11/2), Rathbone (14/1), Papa Stour (18/1), The Last Lion (25/1), Repartee (40/1)

TOMMY DE VITO arrives on an upward curve and he had a bit up his sleeve when scoring at Southwell a couple of months ago, so he gets the nod over the well-treated Rathbone, who may well strip fitter for his reappearance. The smart Royal Crusade also looks a player back in handicap company having run well in Dubai last time.