Racecards
15:55 Kempton Park
Dalkia Ets & Land Securities Handicap Hurdle (Class D)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Form 4/B00-PP
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
tracked leader, led after 2nd, made remainder, hard pressed before 2 out, stayed on well, driven out
El Viejo (IRE)
781- Form 1P2P3P/
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer L Wells
- Jockey A Thornton
held up behind, ridden 8th, in rear when pulled up before 9th
Lesdream
14- Form 1/142-33
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer J Frost
- Jockey V Slattery
held up, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on but not a danger
- Form 12503-6
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
held up in touch, ridden along before 3 out, weakened when blundered 2 out
Bison King (IRE)
192- Form 31530-4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
in touch, mistake 8th, chased leaders 3 out, under pressure approaching 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 205-2S4
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
behind, lost touch 3 out, weakened, tailed off
- Form 1/2-F4F6
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, ridden 9th, soon beaten
- Form P40-622
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer J King
- Jockey P J Brennan
led to 2nd, tracked winner afterwards, mistake 8th, effort 2 out, no extra approaching last
- Form 666-40F
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
always in rear, lost touch 3 out, soon tailed off
In depth
Verdict
This is not the easiest race to work out but, from a shortlist containing Lesdream, Redspin, Lord Nellson and, maybe, Bison King and Safe Enough, we will opt for Lesdream. The Jimmy Frost-trained selection is now 12lbs higher in the ratings than for his Exeter win in January but, much as he has been beaten from revised marks, has run pretty well and, in the overall context of this race, is entitled to go well. Redspin keeps getting raised for getting beaten but, only a four-year-old, could have better to come. While Lord Nellson has yet to win a race, he too has performed well in defeat and is likely to play catch-me-if-you-can. Bison King has shown promise and is lightly raced, while Nick Gifford could yet coax some improvement out of Safe Enough, who is also lightly raced. With Glacial Sunset, whose form has regressed in the last 18 months, and El Viejo, who has an absence to overcome, having something to prove at present, the wheel spins back to Lesdream, who, once again, is the selection.