15:40 Kempton

Monday 27 December 2021

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:1015:40

Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 5.14s

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Selected odds by:

Hacker Des Places³⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136| D

9/1

French import who stepped up on costly British debut defeat when sauntering home in 2m Wetherby juvenile (heavy) last December. However, absent since and much more needed on this handicap bow.

Form: 3121-

The Widdow Maker^h,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Rex Dingle| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 135| D

11/1

Struck twice at Taunton last term and, following a wind op, he looked better than ever when making a winning return at Wincanton (15.2f, good), making all. Another step forward needed here up 7 lb.

Form: 83110-1

Captain Morgs³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131| D

3/1

Rather fortunate to win at Ascot last month, but it was an improved effort nonetheless and since lost little caste in defeat when second in a 4-runner listed handicap at Newbury (16.3f, good to soft).

Form: 20F-312

Rowland Ward^t⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 129| CD

10/1

Improved when landing a big-field Aintree handicap off 7 lb lower in April. Several creditable efforts in defeat since (excuses at Cheltenham last time), but looks vulnerable all the same.

Form: 41-4440

John Locke^t³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| D

11/2

Useful Flat performer who shaped well when fourth in the C&D Adonis on hurdles bow in February. Off the mark in this sphere with tongue strap added latest and may have more to offer now handicapping.

Form: 44-91

Lord Baddesley⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 125| D

11/1

Winner of 2 of his 4 starts as a novice hurdler last term. Has failed to shine in couple of runs over fences this season, but remains open to improvement in this sphere and his mark looks a fair one.

Form: 12U1-4P

Stream Of Stars¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125| D

7/2

Fairly useful on the Flat for John Gosden and made it 2-4 over hurdles when narrowly prevailing in 2m Plumpton (good to soft) novice this month. More needed now handicapping, but he's not discounted.

Form: 2311

Sage Advice⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 125| CD

14/1

Looked a useful recruit when making a winning hurdles debut over C&D in January. However, he misfired on the Flat back from a break in October and also failed to shine back in this sphere last time.

Form: 1236-5

Kannapolis³⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Bannister| T: T Lawes| OR: 123| D

20/1

Flat winner who opened his account at the fifth attempt in this sphere at Warwick last November. Solid second at Doncaster (16.6f, good to soft) the following month, but subsequent absence is a worry.

Form: 3/27212-

Eddiemaurice^t³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J L Flint| OR: 122| CD

20/1

Cashed in on a reduced mark in 2m handicap at Ludlow in February. Ultimately well held on return in Ascot race won by Captain Morgs, but should strip fitter now and he's not without each-way hope.

Form: 3/7515-6

Non-Runners

Glory And Honour⁴⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: T Lacey J: Non Runner

Timberman³⁵

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: Liam Harrison

Royaume Uni¹⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: G & J Moore J: N F Houlihan

Bathsheba Bay⁵⁸

Weight: 10-4| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Just The Man³⁵

Weight: 10-3| Age: 5

T: J G M O'Shea J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Captain Morgs (3/1), Stream Of Stars (7/2), Timberman (5/1), John Locke (11/2), Royaume Uni (15/2), Hacker Des Places (9/1), Rowland Ward (10/1), Lord Baddesley (11/1), The Widdow Maker (11/1), Sage Advice (14/1), Glory And Honour (14/1), Just The Man (16/1), Kannapolis (20/1), Eddiemaurice (20/1), Bathsheba Bay (25/1)

The Skeltons landed this with a novice last year and can do so again via JOHN LOCKE. A useful performer on the Flat, he opened his hurdles account in good style at Huntingdon and makes his handicap debut in this sphere on a potentially lenient mark. Lord Baddesley is well worth a second look back hurdling and is next on the list ahead of Stream of Stars and the veteran of the party, Eddiemaurice.