16:10 Kempton

Saturday 24 February 2024

All13:1513:5014:2715:0015:3716:1016:45

Play Coral Racing-Super-Series For Free Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 22.50s

Golden Son^p1,t⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135

10/1

Smart juvenile hurdler in France and, after 19 months off, shaped encouragingly when runner-up on his stable debut in novice chase at Warwick in November. Pulled up both subsequent starts but it's far too soon to write this 6-y-o off and perhaps the addition of cheekpieces will work the oracle.

Form: 33/2-2PP

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Grandads Cottage^t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 134| D

13/2

Irish point/hurdles winner who made an excellent start over fences last season, scoring twice at around 19.5f. Added to his tally in a first-time tongue strap (retained here) at Leicester in January but this is more demanding up 5 lb.

Form: 121-031

Gustavian^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 131| D

10/3

Sole win from 13 starts over fences was registered in a 3-runner Exeter handicap last February. Largely respectable efforts this season, most recently finishing sixth of 14 in a valuable race over hurdles at Sandown (23.4f, good to soft). By no means a forlorn hope.

Form: 1F-7246

Heltenham^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

13/2

Improved markedly for the switch to chasing last term, completing the hat-trick at Newbury in March. Hurdles winner on return at Wetherby and while he has followed that with a couple of low-key efforts, this 7-y-o could easily bounce back with a bold show.

Form: 11F-138

Pepe Le Moko⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 128| CD

11/8

Winless following 5 attempts over hurdles but has taken very well to fences, making it 2-3 in this sphere when running out the impressive winner of a C&D handicap last time. 9 lb higher now but he may well have more to offer.

Form: 642-121

Champagne Mystery^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 128| CD

10/1

Campaigned exclusively in France in recent years, prior to finishing fifth of 13 in a strong Cheltenham (20.6f, good to soft) handicap on first start since rejoining Tom George. Down 2 lb and holds good claims.

Form: 2F9425

Non-Runners

Quel Destin⁵⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: P F Nicholls J: 2nd Preference

War Lord²⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: J Tizzard J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Pepe Le Moko (11/8), Quel Destin (5/2), Gustavian (10/3), Heltenham (13/2), Grandads Cottage (13/2), Golden Son (10/1), Champagne Mystery (10/1), War Lord (16/1)

This is tougher than the C&D handicap PEPE LE MOKO landed last time and he has a 9 lb higher mark to contend with, but he looks a chaser going places and is taken to strike again. Champagne Mystery is feared most on the back of his admirable effort in a big Cheltenham handicap, while Heltenham is also accorded respect and Golden Son is not one to write off just yet.