19:00 Kempton

Wednesday 15 March 2023

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

'Road To The Kentucky Derby' Conditions Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 19:01 | Winning time: 1m 39.76s

(5)

Alzahir^h,t²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100| D

9/2

Useful gelding. Career best when winning 16-runner minor event at Doha (8f, good) 25 days ago, keeping on well having overcome a wide draw. Slightly more needed on these terms but he couldn't be in better hands.

Form: 2871-1

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(4)

Brave Emperor^b1³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 101| D

3/1

Useful gelding. Blinkered for first time, didn't need to improve to win 10-runner listed race at Cagnes-Sur-Mer (8f, 14/10) 31 days ago by 1¾ lengths from Bolivie, keeping on well. Just about the one to beat again on these terms.

Form: 6111-D1

(7)

Coco Jack¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: George Scott| OR: 96

14/1

Useful gelding. Four wins from 10 runs last year. Latest win at Hamilton in August. 5/1, third of 4 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 19 days ago. Makes polytrack debut and likely to give it another good go.

Form: 34123-3

(1)

Killybegs Warrior¹⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: C Johnston| OR: 96

8/1

Maiden/nursery winner last summer. 6¾ lengths fifth of 6 to Silver Knott in Autumn Stakes (28/1) at Newmarket (8f, good). Off 158 days and needs to return an improved performer to trouble these.

Form: 13175-

(3)

Lieber Power¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| C

2/1

Different proposition on second start when winning 10-runner novice event (evens) at this course (7f), cosily. Off 161 days and likely there's more to come but there needs to be on these terms.

Form: 71-

(2)

Metal Merchant¹⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: J Channon| OR: 92| D

13/2

Novice/nursery winner. 18/1, respectable 11 lengths fifth of 9 to Flying Honours in Zetland Stakes at Newmarket (10f, good). Off 158 days and this looks a tough starting point.

Form: 05115-

(6)

Tenjin^h¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Darragh Keenan| T: J Ryan| OR: 97| C

14/1

Useful gelding. First run since leaving Marco Botti when good length third of 7 to Iconic Moment in listed race (50/1) at Lingfield (7f, AW) 11 days ago, running on. Goes up further in trip.

Form: 123-243

Forecasts

Lieber Power (2/1), Brave Emperor (3/1), Alzahir (9/2), Metal Merchant (13/2), Killybegs Warrior (8/1), Tenjin (14/1), Coco Jack (14/1)

BRAVE EMPEROR can boast a very good strike rate and is useful with it, so he looks the way to go on these terms. Alzahir chases a hat-trick and is a big threat while Coco Jack is slightly more exposed but can usually be relied upon to give his running.