15:40 Kempton

Thursday 26 December 2024

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Ladbrokes Get Rewarded With Ladbucks Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 12.1s

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Selected odds by:

Hermino AA²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 140| D

18/1

Better than ever when making a winning reappearance at Newbury (3m) under Freddie Mitchell 4 weeks ago, leaving the impression he was idling a bit on the run-in so there might have been more there if needed. Down in trip.

Form: 30243-1

Supreme Gift^v²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: H D Daly| OR: 138

8/1

Useful hurdle and chase winner who showed the benefit of his reappearance when taking a 23f Market Rasen handicap hurdle last month. His record since fitted with a visor is solid and he should remain competitive up 3 lb.

Form: P213-71

Emailandy^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| D

14/1

Resumed winning ways at Plumpton (20.5f) in March but well held at Sandown on final start. Similar story on 3m Cheltenham reappearance last month but he should come on for the run.

Form: 22319-0

Mahons Glory^p,h,t¹⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: P Neville| OR: 132| CD

22/1

Won this race last year. Got back on track sent chasing when runner-up in novice handicap at Southwell (20.5f) in June but looked less than keen when pulled up at Perth in September. 6 lb higher than 12 months ago and others are preferred this time.

Form: 180-24P

Doddiethegreat³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 129| CD

10/3

Didn't take to fences here on his reappearance but this C&D winner is potentially well treated back hurdling having dipped to 3 lb lower than when a good fourth of 21 in the ultra-competitive Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February. The mount of de Boinville from the yard's trio.

Form: 12407-5

Samuel Spade²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 125| C| D

18/1

Capitalised on the ease in grade when scoring at Huntingdon (20.5f) in March. Creditable placed efforts at Sandown and Doncaster on his return in November but his jumping can lack fluency.

Form: 0610-32

East India Express⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 123| CD

5/4

Lightly-raced 5-y-o who added to his good record fresh when returning from 8 months off to land an Ascot conditional jockeys' handicap (21.5f, good to soft) last Friday. Obvious chance off the same mark if this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 1/142U-1

In The Air²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Henderson| OR: 123| BF

14/1

Won first 2 starts for Nicky Henderson in October. Only sixth at Cheltenham later that month but back on the up when going down by only a neck to the reopposing King of The Road at Taunton (19f) 4 weeks ago. One of 3 runners from his top stable.

Form: 0-41162

King Of The Road²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: G Sheehan| T: B Pauling| OR: 115

14/1

Made it 3 handicap wins in his last 5 starts when holding on gamely from the reopposing In The Air at Taunton (19f, good to soft) 4 weeks ago. A further 6 lb rise demands more but no surprise were he to find it.

Form: 911-461

Forecasts

East India Express (5/4), Doddiethegreat (10/3), Supreme Gift (8/1), King Of The Road (14/1), In The Air (14/1), Emailandy (14/1), Samuel Spade (18/1), Hermino AA (18/1), Mahons Glory (22/1)

Nicky Henderson holds a strong hand in a race he's won twice since 2020. DODDIETHEGREAT has been given a chance by the handicapper and might be worth siding with over stablemate East India Express, who goes off the same mark as when successful at Ascot last Friday but this is a second outing in quick succession after a break. Supreme Gift may prove best of the remainder.