19:00 Kempton

Monday 22 April 2024

All15:4816:2016:5517:2517:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Sri Lanka Awaits You Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 3m 45.79s

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Selected odds by:

Eclair De Beaufeu²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Jamie Gambin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 121| D

25/1

Long time since his second in the 2020 Grand Annual for Gordon Elliott and little to shout about in 3 runs for Philip Fenton last year. However, produced his best effort for a while when making a winning debut for this yard at Fakenham (2½m, good to soft) and has only be raised 2 lb for that.

Form: 3F0-501

Junkanoo⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Rob Hargreaves⁽⁸⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 121| D

16/1

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat and, having finishing runner-up on first 3 hurdles, he duly landed the odds in a 2m Plumpton novice (good to soft) in January. Pulled up in the Imperial Cup at Sandown next time (never in the hunt after a bad mistake early on) but his sights are now lowered.

Form: 2221P

Galata Bridge²⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 119| D

9/1

Shaped well back from a break at Ludlow last May prior to resuming winning ways in a Uttoxeter handicap (2m, good to soft) later that month. Placed both subsequent starts at Worcester but entitled to come on for this following a 9-month absence.

Form: 6B-4123

Amelia's Dance²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 118| D

14/1

Has found just one to good on several occasions since latest success in 2022, including twice over this C&D. Represents last year's winning trainer-jockey combination and few would begrudge this mare another moment in the sun but she needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort last time.

Form: 252224

Fransham³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Toby Wynne| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 118| CD

40/1

Five-time winner over hurdles but latest success in this sphere was gained back in December 2020 (sole subsequent win was in a 3-runner handicap chase in 2021). Good second following a wind op over C&D in January but took a heavy fall at Fakenham last time and others make more appeal.

Form: 639-72F

Rotten Row^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Hogan| T: G Hanmer| OR: 117| D

50/1

Safely held back hurdling in a claimer on final start for Anthony Mullins at Clonmel in September, and he hasn't shown much in 2 starts on the Flat for new yard in recent weeks.

Form: 4P1424

Yalla Habibi^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: H Dickin| OR: 116| D

5/2

Ran to a fairly useful level in bumpers and bright start over hurdles, badly hampered and unlucky not to win when third on final start for Anthony Charlton at Hereford. Made no mistake when odds-on for a Fakenham maiden (2m, good) on debut for this yard and mark for this handicap bow looks fair.

Form: 224231

Mr Mackay²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113

11/2

Hasn't managed to add to his Huntingdon maiden success in half-a-dozen subsequent starts but he has been keeping pretty good company. Latest fourth at Haydock was in a Class 2 handicap and this 5-y-o needs considering off a 1 lb lower mark here.

Form: 549224

Toonagh Warrior²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gillard| T: S Edmunds| OR: 113| BF| D

15/2

Duly built on promising debut for this yard when landing a 2m Wetherby novice in November before going close on handicap bow at Ascot the following month. Has continued to give his running since and no reason to think he won't be on the premises once again.

Form: 212642

Shetland Tony^p1,t1⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Lily Pinchin| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 112| D

40/1

Drew a blank in 5 outings for Gordon Elliott but returned an improved performer for Nigel Twiston-Davies, easily taking 2m Stratford novice in October. However, he made a low-key start for present connections in France and is now tried in a first-time tongue strap/cheekpieces.

Form: 6-10525

Kourosh^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 118| D

16/1

Fair winner on the Flat in Germany who bolted up on his Wetherby hurdle debut in November. No real progress both completed starts since but he's in good hands and it's still early days, so it would be unwise to overlook this 4-y-o.

Form: 1F35

Mojo Ego⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Alice Stevens| T: Harry Derham| OR: 117| D

14/1

French import who made it 2-4 for present connections when landing a 5-runner juvenile event in decisive fashion at Kelso (16.2f, soft) last month. Doesn't look overly burdened for this handicap debut and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 424141

Him Malaya^t⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 108

12/1

ot off the mark when landing 2m Wincanton handicap in November and backed it up with a solid third there following month. However, he ran no sort of a race at Sandown when last seen at the end of January, which tempers enthusiasm.

Form: 23513P

King William Rufus²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| OR: 108| D

7/1

Showed plenty when placed all 3 bumper outings last season and opened his account at the sixth attempt in this sphere when landing a 2m Plumpton maiden last time. Likely to remain competitive back in handicap company.

Form: 672561

Ve Day²⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 107| D

40/1

Fair maiden on the level for Andrew Balding and landed 4-runner juvenile at Musselburgh (2m, good to soft) on hurdles debut last spring. Has failed to add to that in 5 subsequent starts, though, and he remains on what looks a stiff mark.

Form: 9-32254

Forecasts

Yalla Habibi (5/2), Mr Mackay (11/2), King William Rufus (7/1), Toonagh Warrior (15/2), Galata Bridge (9/1), Him Malaya (12/1), Mojo Ego (14/1), Amelia's Dance (14/1), Junkanoo (16/1), Kourosh (16/1), Eclair De Beaufeu (25/1), Fransham (40/1), Ve Day (40/1), Shetland Tony (40/1), Rotten Row (50/1)

The vote in this competitive contest goes to MOJO EGO, who pulled well clear with the runner-up (winner since) when striking at Kelso and he may well have more to offer now moving into a handicap. Fellow handicap debutant Yalla Habibi did the job well in a Fakenham maiden last time and he is feared most, albeit only marginally as Mr Mackay is of strong interest now eased in class, while King William Rufus and Toonagh Warrior are others with decent claims.