20:00 Kempton

Wednesday 8 January 2025

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Unibet Zero% Mission Handicap

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 3m 33.35s

(3)

Robusto¹¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 80| CD

9/1

Ran right up to his best when adding to his tally over C&D in July. Well below his best on final 2 starts during the summer, trailing in last of 8 back at this track/trip in September. Subsequent absence needs to have helped but he has gone well after a break previously.

Form: 614598-

(1)

Zoran^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: David Probert| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 79| CD

9/4

Versatile sort who landed a C&D handicap in June and returned to winning ways over hurdles at Southwell (20.4f) in November. Comes here on the back of a creditable C&D third returned to this sphere 4 weeks ago and he's expected to be competitive again.

Form: 212893-

(2)

Jack McNamara²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: J Mitchell| T: S Pearce| OR: 78| BF

9/4

Much improved from debut effort/after 6 months off when second in a Curragh maiden (12f) in October. Changed hands for 87,000 gns after and chased home a useful prospect when runner-up in maiden at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 23 days ago. Can make his mark now handicapping up in trip.

Form: 022-

(5)

Golden Flame⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: H Crouch| T: T Faulkner| OR: 77

50/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2021. 10/1, seventh of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (16.6f) 51 days ago, dropping away approaching home turn. Plenty to prove at present.

Form: 025/097-

(6)

Haaland¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Cieren Fallon| T: J & S Best| OR: 74| D

17/2

Tasted success 3 times in for Gay Kelleway last year and shaped well on debut for new stable when fifth of 9 in handicap (16/1) at Wolverhampton (14f) 12 days ago, keeping on when no room late on. Worth a look from this sort of mark returned to this longer trip.

Form: 3165/75-

(9)

Poncho²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Ashley Lewis⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 72| D

22/1

Hurdles winner who opened his account on the Flat at Lingfield (15.7f) last month, nursed to the front final 100 yds. Finished midfield in 13-runner handicap hurdle at Windsor (20f) on latest start 24 days ago and he can't be ruled out back in this sphere.

Form: 834521-

(8)

The Craftymaster³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: William Carson| T: A W Carroll| OR: 72| D

25/1

Major success story on all-weather last winter, gaining a seventh career success since last December at Newcastle (16.2f) in March. Not figured in 2 outings upon returning from a break in recent months but his mark is steadily easing.

Form: 215577-

(4)

Francesco Baracca^h²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Edward Greatrex| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 70| C

16/5

Latest win here (12f) in August and twice run well over this C&D since, latterly from long way out of weights when fifth of 11 in class 2 handicap 4 weeks ago (Zoran placed third). Can make his presence felt back down in grade.

Form: 415245-

Non-Runners

(7)

Clockmaker²⁶

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: D M Simcock J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Zoran (9/4), Jack McNamara (9/4), Francesco Baracca (16/5), Clockmaker (11/2), Haaland (17/2), Robusto (9/1), Poncho (22/1), The Craftymaster (25/1), Golden Flame (50/1)

HAALAND shaped well on the back of an 11-month absence and was unlucky not to finish closer when fifth over shorter at Wolverhampton 12 days ago. He could well be worth siding with to confirm the promise of that run turned out quickly. Zoran boasts a good record here and is feared, as is handicap-debutant Jack McNamara and Francesco Baracca.