13:20 Kempton

Friday 27 December 2024

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0815:38

Ladbrokes Play '1-2-Free' On Football Mares' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 6m 12.95s

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Selected odds by:

West Balboa¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 141| C| D

12/1

Very useful winning hurdler. Sent chasing this term and almost unseated rider last when fourth at Worcester before considerately handled when fifth at Bangor. Also disappointing in listed company returned to timber a fortnight ago but he's on a tempting mark on pick if his form.

Form: 863-453

Della Casa Lunga^p,t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 134WS

7/2

Back-to-back handicap winner at Ludlow in February before being found out in a warmer race at Punchestown in May. Almost certainly needed the run at Bangor on reappearance and filled the position he was entitled to when second in listed company here a month ago. Since had a breathing op.

Form: 811P-62

Pawapuri³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128

5/1

Useful 11f Flat winner for William Haggas who landed a maiden and a novice at up to 18.9f around this time last year. Sound second back on the level at Salisbury in May and while she was well behind Della Casa Lunga here last time, that was her first run in 6 months. Up in trip.

Form: 49/116-3

Royale Margaux^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 120

4/1

Prolific in France but 0-13 for this yard. Last couple of runs have been more encouraging though, finishing with running left having met trouble at Cheltenham a fortnight ago. One to consider.

Form: 43-4724

Larchmont Lass²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 115| BF

3/1

Returned from wind surgery to land a 21f Wincanton handicap on last month's reappearance. Held back by a couple of errors when third at Sandown 3 weeks ago but she remains unexposed and the return to 3m looks worth exploring. Hood left off.

Form: 4145-13

Looking As You Are³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: A M Hales| OR: 112

25/1

Runner-up 3 times in bumpers and struck in maiden/novice hurdles around 21f in the spring. May have needed the run on last month's reappearance/handicap debut but she'll need to leave that effort well behind. 3 lb out if the weights.

Form: 03113-6

Holly Hartingo³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 111

11/1

Bounced back to her best to win a 15-runner Chepstow handicap in October (19.5f). That race worked out quite well and up 5 lb, she gave a pretty good account of herself when third over same C&D a month ago. 4 lb out of the weights.

Form: PP-5513

Fortuna Ligna^t,v³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Chad Bament⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 109

9/1

Signed off last term with a win at Perth and back at that sort of level when third at Ascot a month ago. Visor replaces cheekpieces and no easy task from out of the handicap.

Form: 341-243

Non-Runners

The Lord Maid³⁶

Weight: 10-13| Age: 6

T: T Lacey J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Larchmont Lass (3/1), Della Casa Lunga (7/2), Royale Margaux (4/1), Pawapuri (5/1), Fortuna Ligna (9/1), The Lord Maid (10/1), Holly Hartingo (11/1), West Balboa (12/1), Looking As You Are (25/1)

The presence of WEST BALBOA keeps a trio of these out of the handicap and while she hasn't been at her best this term (started out over fences) she can call upon plenty of very solid form in better races than this. She therefore receives the vote in favour of Royale Margaux and Larchmont Lass.