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Richard Birch analysis plus trainer quotes for an intriguing sprint handicap

Dubai Warrior (Rab Havlin) wins the 1m novice stakesKempton 7.8.19 Pic: Edward Whitaker
Kempton hosts a fiercely competitive Unibet Handicap on TuesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Unibet Handicap | 5f | 4yo+ | RTV

A tight-knit handicap with a weights range among the ten runners of just 5lb.

The eye is immediately drawn to Grandfather Tom, who represents a trainer with an excellent record in sprint handicaps.

Robert Cowell's five-year-old showed blinding early pace when making all in 5f handicaps at Nottingham and Windsor last summer, and fitness is unlikely to be a problem as he won first time out in 2019.

The big concern, however, is his handicap mark. When successful at Windsor he was competing off a theoretical 70 when factoring in the 7lb claim of Angus Villiers. He starts this campaign off 81.

Mercenary Rose has a similar style of running to Grandfather Tom in that she usually cracks out and blazes a trail. Unless one of them manages to get loose, this race could be teed up for a sprinter ridden more patiently from off the pace.

Benny And The Jets fits the bill, but he hasn't always delivered as much as may have looked likely, so Spoof could be the answer.

Charlie Hills's sprinter failed to score last season and, as a result, starts 2020 on a most favourable mark.

Rated 98 at the beginning of 2019, he competes off 16lb lower here and, while yet to open his account on sand, he does possess one good piece of form at Kempton.

Successful off 95 at the Chester May meeting two years ago, he would be mighty hard to beat if able to reproduce that run off his much-reduced rating.

Richard Birch, tipster

What the trainers say

George Scott, trainer of Jack The Truth
We're very pleased with him and he seems to go well fresh, his form figures would certainly suggest that. I would put a line through his run at Southwell and, if you take that out, he would probably be one of the favourites. I'm delighted with his form but he's never run at Kempton, so we'll have to see how he handles that. He's versatile and I'm expecting a decent run.

Dean Ivory, trainer of Charming Kid
Who knows where we all are. I don't overwork my horses and I switched mine right off for a nice break because it was clear we'd be off for a while. The idea is to try and keep a lid on these horses and he's nice and relaxed now. He's got a bum draw and I'm not sure how much we'll learn about him from stall ten of ten round Kempton over five furlongs.

Robert Cowell, trainer of Grandfather Tom
I think he's pretty fit, certainly fit enough to run well first time. It's a case of whether he can defy this mark. He's been working very well, he looks strong. With a lot of these sprinters he looks like he could improve with age and he could have another nice season. I think he'll be pretty straight, it just depends what else is lurking in there that might have a few pounds in hand on us.

Oliver Cole, co-trainer of Mercenary Rose
I think she's spot on. She's very fit and, while she will probably come on for this run a bit, over five furlongs it's less of a worry. She's on a racing weight and I think she's a better filly than last year.

Reporting by Scott Burton


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