12:55 Kempton

Saturday 13 January 2024

All12:2012:5513:3014:0714:4215:1515:50

Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 3m 57.89s

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Selected odds by:

Goodwin²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 125| D

9/4

Ready winner of a Fontwell bumper in February and confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut with a much-improved effort when winning 13-runner Plumpton novice (15.9f) 26 days ago. asserting final 50 yds. Should continue to progress and looks up to defying a penalty.

Form: 31-21

Don Occhetti¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton

200/1

Hinted at ability in a bumper/maiden hurdle but will make little appeal this side of handicaps.

Form: 84

Eloso²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: J & S Best

200/1

Fair winner on the Flat at up to 12f for Gay Kelleway but has been well held both starts over hurdles.

Form: 88

Gentle Slopes³⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| D

4/5

Dual bumper winner who shaped with plenty of encouragement when third of 6 at Cheltenham on hurdles debut in December 2022. Failed to repeat that effort back there 3 weeks later but retains plenty of potential having joined Nicky Henderson.

Form: 1/15135-

Hawk Stone²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H Dickin

150/1

Has shown signs of ability in 2 bumpers/Wincanton novice hurdle but is low-grade staying handicapper in the making.

Form: 066

Highway One O Five²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon

20/1

Fair form first 2 runs in bumpers. Given a considerate introduction to hurdling when sixth over C&D in November and built on that when fourth of 18 at Newbury (16.3f) 24 days ago. This requires another step forward, though.

Form: 33-064

Junkanoo²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 122

11/2

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat (stays 11.5f) and again showed plenty of aptitude for hurdling when finding only Goodwin too strong at Plumpton (15.9f) 26 days ago. Meets that rival on 6 lb better terms here.

Form: 22

Kotari²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore

125/1

Fair maiden on the Flat in France who is seemingly being brought along with handicaps in mind over hurdles.

Form: 55

Pleasington⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: O Murphy| BF

40/1

€72,000 3-y-o, Shantou gelding. Brother to fairly useful hurdler Findthetime but failed to meet expectations in a Uttoxeter bumper on debut in November.

Form: 6

Brendas Asking²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

18/1

Runner-up completed start in Irish points and made a sound start to her Rules career when third of 16 in a bumper at Huntingdon in February. Ran below that form at Southwell but shaped with some promise sent hurdling when fifth of 11 at Cheltenham (16.8f) 29 days ago. Should do better.

Form: F235-5

Forecasts

Gentle Slopes (4/5), Goodwin (9/4), Junkanoo (11/2), Brendas Asking (18/1), Highway One O Five (20/1), Pleasington (40/1), Kotari (125/1), Hawk Stone (150/1), Don Occhetti (200/1), Eloso (200/1)

GOODWIN was much improved when making all at Plumpton last month and, with the third going on to frank the form subsequently, he looks up to defying a penalty with further progress on the cards. Gentle Slopes retains plenty of potential on first start for Nicky Henderson, while Junkanoo seems sure to be in the thick of the action once again.