Racecards
14:05 Kempton Park
Virgin Bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £12,200 added
- Winner: £7,018
- 2nd: £2,061
- 3rd: £1,030
- 4th: £515
- Form 1P-214P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
raced keenly, chased leading pair on inside until soon after 4 out, weakened before next
- Form P15263
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer S Edmunds
- Jockey C Gethings
raced wide, held up in 5th, jumped slowly 7th, soon lost place and behind
- Form 331441
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer S Curran
- Jockey Harry Bannister
raced keenly, led, went clear after 3rd, came back to the field before 6th, headed next, chased leader, every chance 4 out, lost 2nd before next, weakening when fell 2 out
- Form 5F237-5
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer O Murphy
- Jockey Fergus Gregory
wore hood to post, held up in rear, good headway tracking leaders 4 out, went 2nd approaching last, stayed on same pace run-in
- Form 4-32324
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J J Burke
held up in last pair, closer tracking leaders 7th, pushed along after 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on well run-in
- Form F5-1114
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey James Bowen
chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, rallied 3 out, driven between last 2, went well held 3rd final 100 yards
- Form 123451
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey James Davies
tracked leader who went clear after 3rd, closer before 6th, led next, ridden before 2 out, headed before the last, soon lost 2nd, weakened and lost 3rd final 100 yards
Verdict
A bad blunder put paid to Zoffee’s chances when favourite at Doncaster last time but this is a much less competitive affair and he should be thereabouts with a better round of jumping. But DOUKAROV hasn’t done a lot wrong since going chasing and he had Peterborough well behind when successful at Taunton in November. He also had matters well in hand from a long way out at Leicester at the start of the month so can defy a 10lb rise. Fairway Freddy won here in October and again at Plumpton at the start of the month and will be hard to keep out of the frame while Onthefrontfoot has placed in both starts over fences so far.
Formwatch
Zoffee 11-4fav (11-3) Led until blundered 5th, lost place, eased and pulled up before next, at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Havana Hermano (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 2f out, ridden and stayed on from over 1f out, closed on 2nd but no chance with winner, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Billy's Angel (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f (5) pol in Feb.
Doukarov (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Mostly jumped well, made all, hit 2nd, went clear before next, reduced lead after 8th, went left 3 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Leicester 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Jack Valentine (11-11) by 5 1/2l, 9 ran.
Eskendash (USA) 10-1 (11-0) Close-up, challenged for lead before 4 out, weakened before 2 out, soon beaten, 5th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Amoola Gold (11-2) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Onthefrontfoot (IRE) 4-11fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, went 2nd 4f out until 1f out, held and one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Plan Of Escape (11-2) at Newcastle 2m (5) pol in Feb.
Peterborough (FR) 10-3 (11-10) Led, landed awkwardly 5th and disputed lead, led before 6th, headed before next, blundered 7th, mistake 4 out, soon beaten and weakened, 4th of 5, dist behind Doukarov (11-0) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Fairway Freddy (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Traced leader, led 5th, headed 7th, led again next, ridden out, won at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Flaminger (11-6) by 4 1/4l, 5 ran.