15:35 Kempton

Saturday 26 December 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 10.55s

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Selected odds by:

Jarveys Plate⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 138| BF

28/1

Useful effort when landing 3-runner listed event on chase debut at Chepstow last autumn. Hasn't progressed in that sphere since (jumping not convincing) and smart performance needed back hurdling.

Form: 1449F-5

Whatsupwithyou⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 137

15/2

A lightly-raced winner over hurdles who improved again when second in 21f Cheltenham handicap (heavy) 6 weeks ago. A 5 lb rise demands more from him again, though.

Form: 1/1P3-72

Monte Cristo⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133

25/1

French recruit who landed a Newbury juvenile hurdle for this yard last season. Could only manage a midfield finish when stepped up to 2½m for his Aintree reappearance but remains unexposed.

Form: 62141-8

Ecco^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131

6/1

Disappointing when favourite for Welsh Champion on reappearance but back on track in cheekpieces since, awarded a Doncaster handicap latest after the first past post weighed in light. Same mark.

Form: 200-831

Rathhill²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131

12/1

Hasn't gone on as expected since impressive debut win 2 years ago but it's still relatively early days and he could be sharper with his reappearance run at Newbury (20.5f) under his belt.

Form: 214/00-7

Coeur de Lion^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Max Browne⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A King| OR: 129

7/1

Useful on the Flat, scoring at Royal Ascot back in June. Not seen to best effect (caught too far back) when sixth on Newbury hurdle return last month and remains one to bear in mind from this mark.

Form: 00/558-6

Switch Hitter⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127| CD

7/1

Point winner who struck at the second time of asking over hurdles when fending off a next-time-out winner in C&D novice 47 days ago. Open to further progress now handicapping for top yard.

Form: 1/5-21

Push The Tempo⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: R Stephens| OR: 127

25/1

Lightly raced in recent years but made a decent return to hurdles this autumn. Also ran to a fair level when fourth on Flat debut last time. Richard Johnson booked.

Form: 305/8-34

Riggs³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124

7/1

Made second handicap start a winning one when seeing off 10 rivals at Uttoxeter (2½m, heavy) 5 weeks ago. Raised 9 lb but it's likely this low-mileage sort has more to offer.

Form: 642-61

Let's Get At It^h1³⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: T Scudamore| T: Nick Mitchell| OR: 122| D

80/1

Three handicap wins for Olly Murphy in 2018/19 but off for 20 months ahead of this return for a new yard. Has a hood on for the first time. Watching brief the percentage call.

Form: 17114/4-

Runswick Bay³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 121

14/1

Bumper winner who has made a solid start over hurdles, runner-up on first 2 starts before winning at Taunton (16.5f) last month. Likely has more to offer now stepping up in trip for handicap debut.

Form: 10-221

Tel'art^b³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 119

33/1

Improved model this summer, scoring twice at up to 2¾m. Put in another good shift when fifth over C&D latest but the handicapper seems to be winning the argument for now.

Form: 213P65

Barbados Blue⁵⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 119| CD

11/2

Not seen since dotting up in a small-field C&D novice hurdle May 2019 but she's a totally unexposed mare from a top stable so needs considering even though she returns in a competitive environment.

Form: 122/1-

Top Man¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 119| D

16/1

Lightly raced point/hurdles winner who got off to a perfect start over fences with stylish win in 2½m Fontwell handicap. Now back hurdling having fallen on both outings since.

Form: 136-1FF

Distingo^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 116| C

16/1

More miss than hit since landing a 2m novice here in March 2018. Latest 3m fourth here was a step back in the right direction but others certainly arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 650-P74

Non-Runners

Dream Berry²²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 9

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Who's My Jockey⁴²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: R Hobson J: Jack Tudor

Forecasts

Barbados Blue (11/2), Ecco (6/1), Riggs (7/1), Switch Hitter (7/1), Coeur de Lion (7/1), Whatsupwithyou (15/2), Rathhill (12/1), Runswick Bay (14/1), Top Man (16/1), Distingo (16/1), Who's My Jockey (20/1), Dream Berry (20/1), Monte Cristo (25/1), Push The Tempo (25/1), Jarveys Plate (28/1), Tel'art (33/1), Let's Get At It (80/1)

A highly competitive finale. RIGGS had plenty in hand when making his second handicap start a winning one at Uttoxeter last month so could perhaps prove the answer. A market move for the returning Nicky Henderson mare Barbados Blue would make her a probable threat. THe Paul Nicholls pair Ecco and Switch Hitter are also on the shortlist along with Coeur de Lion.