Racecards
20:20 Kempton Park
Try Our New Price Boosts At Unibet Handicap (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 3f 219y
- Going: Standard / Slow
- Surface: Polytrack
- £11,500 added
- Winner: £5,927
- 2nd: £2,780
- 3rd: £1,390
- 4th: £695
- Form 6/21110-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey W Buick
restless in stalls, bit keen, led, ridden over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, stayed on gamely until headed and not pace of winner towards finish
- Form 23-313D
- Age 6
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer G G Margarson
- Jockey T P Queally
steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
- Form 215-220
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
tracked leader 2f, handy 3rd, 2nd again2f out, ridden and lost 2nd over 1f out, plugged on in 3rd
- Form 114-51
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer R Varian
- Jockey David Egan
held up in last pair, headway on outside chasing leaders over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, quickened to lead towards finish
- Form 7/31114-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey Jim Crowley
wore hood to post, tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
- Form 111404/
- Age 9
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J Tuite
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
tracked leaders, went 2nd 10f out, pushed along over 2f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened inside final 2f
- Form 242140
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer R Hughes
- Jockey Tyler Heard
held up in 5th, pushed along 4f out, outpaced over 2f out, no danger after
In depth
Verdict
Protected Guest passed the post first over track and trip a fortnight ago but had hampered Valyrian Steel in the closing stages and the latter was awarded the race. There looks little between that pair as they step up a grade but ALMAREEKH (NAP) has already won at this level. The latter completed a hat-trick last summer and, though making her seasonal debut, Jim Crowley prefers her chances to those of Taqareer, who struggled at York last time. Galata Bridge landed a treble on the Tapeta last year but has undergone wind surgery and switched yards since.
Formwatch
Galata Bridge 18-1 (9-1) Pulled hard held up, ridden and weakened 2f out, 15th of 17, 21 1/4l behind Kingbrook (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Protected Guest 14-1 (9-7) Keen in 5th on inside, good headway into 3rd over 2f out, led and carried head high over 1f out, ridden and hung right inside final furlong, bumped 2nd close home, all out, finished first, placed second, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in May beating Valyrian Steel (9-3) by ns, 7 ran.
Taqareer (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden out wide 3f out, soon weakened, 13th of 15, dist behind Ilaraab (9-9) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in May.
Valyrian Steel (IRE) 6-4fav (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, headway towards inside over 2f out, chasing leaders and switched right over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, leant on by winner and stayed on gamely, bumped by winner close home, finished second, placed first, 2nd of 7, at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in May.
Almareekh (USA) 5-4fav (8-12) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 5, 9 3/4l behind Sorrel (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp fll (2) gd in Sep.
American Gigolo 6-1 (10-13) Raced keenly in rear, headway going well on long run before 2 out, soon beaten, 5th of 10, 31l behind Miranda (10-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Charlie Arthur (IRE) 7-1 (9-10) Close up, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out, 10th of 12, 20 3/4l behind Galidermes (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (5) sft in May.