KEMPTON PARK 19:00

All 9 ran.

Time: 1m 25.64s Closing Sectional: (3f): 34.55s (106.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 101.9%

A handicap in which a prominent position was an advantage, the winner controlling matters from the front, but it's still a strong piece of form in the context of the all-weather season, containing several who'll remain of interest over the coming weeks, Heathcliff perhaps top of that list after an eye-catching display.

MOUNT ATHOS making first start on these shores since winning corresponding event off similar mark in 2024 (also won 2023 renewal), having also scored at listed level in France in the interim, and looked as good as ever as he brought up the hat-trick in this contest after 4 months off, aided by a good ride and adding to an excellent record both at this track and when fresh; dictated, quickened around 2f out, poached 2-length lead, closed down final 100 yds, all out to hold on, enjoyed the run of things; his campaign this year will presumably follow a similar path to 2024 and he should hold his own at listed/minor pattern level in France.

LOCAL HERO (IRE) quickly got back on the up, better placed than most but perhaps not ideally suited by the combination of drop back in trip and steady gallop; chased leader, shaken up 2f out, took a while to hit top stride before running on late, just failed; he's yet to prove himself on turf, so looks an obvious one to aim at All-Weather Finals day on Good Friday, where he should remain competitive.

ROI DE FRANCE (IRE) shaped well after 4 months off, leaving the impresion a stronger gallop would have suited at this shorter trip; mid-division, typically travelled well, pushed along over 1f out, kept on, came from further back than the pair who beat him; he's still quite low mileage and has already shown he can hold his own at listed level, but there's also still an air of unfinished business about him in handicaps, this qualifying him for Finals day on Good Friday and he'll be an even stronger contender for the Mile than the one just ahead of him.

POPMASTER (IRE) after 7 weeks off, has eased a bit in the weights and wasted no time getting back to form, despite not being seen to maximum effect; raced off the pace, had to wait for gap 2f out as race was taking shape, got gap soon after, steady headway final 1f.

WILLEM TWEE back in handicap company, stepped up on reappearance run, doing about as well as could be expected; waited with, pushed along over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, ran on; won off this mark last year, but had a significant class edge that day and the suspicion is that he'll remain hard to place in the short term.

HEATHCLIFF back up in trip, shaped much better than the bare result; awkward leaving stalls, in rear, still plenty to do under 2f out, good headway when no room and snatched up over 1f out, not recover but finished with running left under hands-and-heels ride; he's run well all 3 starts at Newcastle and is one to bear in mind for the Sprint on Good Friday should he make the cut.

GOLDEN MIND (IRE) again failed to match the form he showed when winning here in February, despite a good position, adding weight to the idea that effort flatters him slightly; prominent, pushed along early in straight, faded.

KING'S LYNN was flying too high, but didn't help his chances by racing freely back up in trip; mid-field, pushed along over 2f out, carried head bit awkwardly, faded.

NIKOVO followed a good run with a below-par one; waited with, progress into mid-field 3-wide around halfway, ridden early in straight, weakened.