Racecards
19:20 Kempton Park
Digibet Casino Handicap (Class 6)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Standard
- Surface: AllWeather
- £3,000 added
- Form 0-22421
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 54
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey M Coumbe
made all, led and set good pace, stayed on well final furlong, driven out
- Form 026-135
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 59
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened quickly from 2f out
- Form 837-42
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer Lady Herries
- Jockey S Sanders
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, not quicker than one pace over 1f out
- Form 56854-8
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 58
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out and no impression over 1f out
- Form 6871-24
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer I W McInnes
- Jockey D Tudhope
started slowly, held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on steadily final furlong, nearest finish
- Form 327-395
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer D Shaw
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
steadied start, took keen hold in rear, ridden and struggling over 2f out, never dangerous
- Form 72-2745
- Age 7
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 56
started slowly, took keen hold behind, driven well over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, never nearer
- Form 7908-62
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 56
- Trainer C R Dore
- Jockey L P Keniry
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no headway, soon outpaced
- Form 400200-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 50
- Trainer J D Bethell
- Jockey J Quinn
tracked winner on inner, effort over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace
- Form 6755-43
- Age 10
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 48
- Trainer J J Bridger
- Jockey N Chalmers
held up mid-division, ridden and lost pace over 2f out, soon beaten
In depth
Verdict
We'll plump for Grey Ghurka in an open race in which White Bear and Waqaarr are others to consider closely. Grey Ghurka benefited from a change of tactics and stable to gain his first success over this course and distance in December. He hasn't shone in two subsequent outings at Wolverhampton but neither race really panned out in his favour and he may be worth another chance. White Bear is well handicapped on the pick of last season's form and his last time out second suggests that he may soon be placed to take advantage. Waqaar is still a maiden but is of interest stepping up in trip as that could bring about some improvement and the jockey booking is a positive. Perfect Practice, Under Fire and Napoletano also make some appeal but we're happy enough to have Grey Gurkha on our side here.
Formwatch
Under Fire (IRE) 9-4fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, chased leader over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven out, held on, won at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol beating Mix N Match (8-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Perfect Practice 7-2co-fav (8-5) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 6l behind Wasalat (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f fll hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Waqaarr 4-9fav (9-3) Prominent, quickened to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on well for 2nd, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Simpsons Gamble (9-3) at Kempton 6f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Jan.
Very Well Red 11-1 (8-13) Tracked winner to over 1f out, weakened quickly final furlong, 8th of 11, 7l behind Seneschal (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Grey Gurkha 5-1 (9-3) Steadied start, held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 6l behind Justcallmehandsome (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
Royal Embrace 4-1 (8-10) Steadied start, held up in rear, ridden 3f out, struggling when weakened over 2f out, 5th of 7, 5l behind Safari Sundowner (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Napoletano (GER) 11-2 (9-0) Dwelt, in rear, headway over 4f out, ridden and outpaced 2f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Joy And Pain (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
White Bear (FR) 8-1 (9-0) In touch, headway on inside 2f out, switched right to chase winner 1f out, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind King of Legend (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Wisdom's Kiss 16-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride and bumped start, behind, never dangerous after, 10th of 14, 10l behind Forced Upon Us (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Border Edge 10-1 (8-5) Prominent, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, rallied and stayed on well inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 1/2l behind Not Now Lewis (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Jan.
Ali Bruce 7-2 (8-13) Reared start, slowly into stride, headway halfway, chased leader well over 1f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Linda's Colin (8-13) at Lingfield 1m sll (6) pol in Feb '07.