Racecards
15:55 Kempton Park
Toteexacta Handicap Hurdle (Class C )
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good
- Form 1U-0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey Stephen Craine
held up, headway to chase leader 3 out, soon ridden and weakened before 2 out
- Form 0000-51
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
not fluent towards rear, driven along and no chance before 2 out
- Form P26/10-4
- Age 11
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer Miss H Lewis
- Jockey Mr J Cook
led to 7th, weakened after 8th, soon well behind
- Form 31155-5
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 123
held up mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and hampered bend before 2 out, mistake 2 out, beaten when blundered badly last
- Form 31422P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey James Davies
held up behind, ridden and outpaced after 6th, modest late progress from 2 out, never dangerous
- Form 242044
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey L P Aspell
towards rear, headway before 2 out to chase winner, led last, soon headed flat, not pace of winner
- Form 0000-11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Antony Evans
tracked leaders, led 7th, headed after 8th, gradually weakened
- Form 212334-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Mrs L C Taylor
- Jockey A Thornton
not fluent in mid-division, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous
- Form 301-26
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
in rear, never dangerous
- Form 21323-3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P Flynn
steadied start and held up in rear, blundered 1st, headway and going well, led 2 out, ran green approaching last and headed, rallied flat and soon led again, comfortably
- Form 6-21F41
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 113
close up until weakened after 3 out
- Form 23303
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Durack
behind, chased leaders 7th, led after 8th, headed 2 out, one pace afterwards
- Form 101F04
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer K Bell
- Jockey M Batchelor
in touch until weakened after 7th
- Form 20-0333
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey B P Harding
behind, never in challenging position
- Form 66-P445
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer P M Rich
- Jockey J Goldstein
prominent, blundered 2nd, lost place 4th, beaten after 6th
In depth
Verdict
The ones that catch the eye here are Saint Par, Lotus des Pictons, Croix de Guerre, Florida Dream and, possibly, Dolmur, with the vote going to Lotus des Pictons. The Martin Pipe-trained selection put in a fair effort at Cheltenham last time on his first run in nearly a year. Given that he was a decent novice the season before, and that he might appreciate the drop from the three-mile trip on that occasion, points to him running a good race. Florida Dream has certainly inherited some of his brother Florida Pearl's talent, displaying it to good effect at Haydock Park last time. He left a very good impression on that occasion and it is only with reluctance he was not given the nod, particularly given that a six-pound rise for that win looks very fair. Saint Par has been raised seven pounds for a Leicester success, which again looks reasonable given that he will prefer today's going plus the step up in trip. Afford him a chance, as you should Croix de Guerre, who has proven that he can go well in big handicaps, as evidenced by his fourth in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. Finally, if you take Dolmur's novice form literally - he was 14 lengths behind Astronomic at Sedgefield and just over six behind Coat Of Honour at Musselburgh, then he too can be given some sort of chance. Overall, though we are just going to side with Lotus des Pictons.