Racecards
15:25 Kempton Park
J.P.A. Group Handicap Hurdle (Class C)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good
Il Cavaliere
20- Form 11F-P36
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Mrs M Reveley
- Jockey A Thornton
took keen hold and held up well in rear, headway on wide outside before 2 out, went 2nd soon after 2 out, stayed on well under pressure flat, not reach winner
- Form P10-P
- Age 4
- Weight 11-11
in touch, chased winners 3 out, until weakened before next, soon eased when no chance
- Form 26-2141
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
led to 5th, stayed tracking leader to 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off
- Form 1030
- Age 4
- Weight 11-9
blundered 1st, soon tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, and weakened before next, tailed off
- Form 42-1F1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
held up, effort and mistake 3 out, 5th and no chance when mistake last
- Form 20-131
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
pulled hard, held up, mistake 3rd, headway going well to track winner approaching 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
Javelin
20- Form 4F3126
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
in rear, mistakes 5th and next, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 10F-0U2
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in rear, headway when mistake 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 20313P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-13
tracked leader, led 5th to 3 out, weakened rapidly
Bed Bug (FR)
51- Form 5031-24
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
chased leaders, every chance 3 out, one pace and held before next
Count Tony
17- Form 405511
- Age 9
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey G Lee
tracked leaders, led 3 out, clear last, stayed on well flat
In depth
Verdict
Although officially a 0-135 it is really a 0-120 with the weights having gone up 12lbs overnight. Most of these are relatively exposed including Il Cavaliere, who has been done no favours by the raising of the weights and although the front-running Balladeer will be difficult to peg back around this sharp track, the vote goes to the unexposed Tinoveritas. Paul Nicholls' five-year-old left quite an impression when running out a wide margin winner at Newbury and with plenty of improvement to come he could well prove to be a cut above his rivals. Balladeer, a useful performer on the flat when in the care of John Hills has taken a while to get his act together over hurdles, but, the change to front-running has brought about improvement and he looks sure to play his part in this. Fils A Papa has looked nothing out of the ordinary in France, but his trainer has such an enviable record in this country one cannot dismiss him lightly. Javelin was well beaten off this mark last time, but this looks slightly easier and is one to keep an eye on, as is the lightly-weighted Count Tony, who hails from the in-form Peter Bowen yard. The winner of a handicap hurdle back in 1999 off a mark of 114, he would still appear reasonably well treated off a 9lbs lower mark here. Bed Bug is only of limited ability and will almost certainly find this too competitive for him, but The Dark Lord is interesting as he is almost certainly capable of better than he has shown to date. Lucy Wadham's Lord Americo gelding, winner of two of his last three outings was in the process of running his best race when coming to grief at the second last at Huntingdon when upside the highly-regarded Be Fair (rated 122). He doesn't look badly treated on this first venture into handicap company off 114 and he has place claims at least, but Tinoveritas gets the vote in a competitive heat.