14:45 Kempton

Saturday 15 March 2025

All13:3714:1014:4515:2015:5716:3217:07

Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 0.72s

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Selected odds by:

West Balboa^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| CD

16/1

Very useful winning hurdler. Didn't take to chasing in the autumn but this former Lanzarote winner wasn't disgraced back hurdling the last twice and connections' won this race last year.

Form: 3-45344

Pyramid Place^h²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 134| CD

33/1

Landed an eighth handicap hurdle success of his career when seeing off 3 rivals over C&D in November but found in stronger races at Doncaster and back here since. This doesn't look any easier.

Form: 174169

Chasing Fire^p⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 133

12/1

Notched second success over fences when accounting for 5 rivals in 3m Perth handicap on final run of last season. Disappointing in 2 chases starts on his return at the end of 2024 and now reverts to hurdles after 3 months off.

Form: U421-7P

Irish Hill^p³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| D

10/1

Consistent type who landed hurdle win number 7 when holding on gamely at Warwick (21f, soft) under Jay Tibdall last month. Should remain very competitive after only a 2 lb nudge.

Form: 2-P1231

Classic King²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 131

10/3

Has landed handicap chase/hurdle wins around 19f at Doncaster this winter. Another good run when third in 19f Ascot handicap last month, staying on as if this return to slightly further will suit.

Form: U81U13

Saint Anapolino²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 130| CD

11/2

Going from strength to strength over hurdles, completing hat-trick in pretty good C&D handicap last month. A further 7 lb rise demands more but no surprise were this improving 6-y-o to find it.

Form: 2-23111

Josh The Boss^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Jamie Neild⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 129| C| D

15/2

Resumed progress on return with victory in 17-runner Silver Trophy at Chepstow (19.5f) in October. That is good form but he hasn't come close to reproducing it twice since. A bounce back is needed.

Form: 548-19P

Double Powerful^h⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 127| D

7/1

Highly progressive, strong-travelling sort who won a remarkable 6 handicaps on the trot between March and November last month. Improved again when only narrowly denied a 7-timer at Ascot (21.5f, good to soft) in December, running on well having still hard plenty to do 3 out. Big player.

Form: 1-11112

Aston Martini^p1⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 126

10/3

Bumper winner who also landed her first 2 starts over hurdles last winter. Further progress in handicaps this season, shaping as if this slightly longer trip will play to her strengths when second of 11 in 19f Ascot handicap in January. Cheekpieces go on.

Form: 114-202

The Gray Ghost^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Liam Harrison| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 121

16/1

Irish bumper winner who came good for new connections in 2½m Newcastle novice hurdle in January. Improved again when length second of 10 in Musselburgh handicap (2½m, good to soft) since. Raised 4 lb but this lightly-raced 6-y-o could easily have more to give.

Form: 714012

Forecasts

Aston Martini (10/3), Classic King (10/3), Saint Anapolino (11/2), Double Powerful (7/1), Josh The Boss (15/2), Irish Hill (10/1), Chasing Fire (12/1), West Balboa (16/1), The Gray Ghost (16/1), Pyramid Place (33/1)

A really good handicap. SAINT ANAPOLINO is taken to defy a 7 lb rise for last month's C&D success and make it 4 in a row but there are plenty of possible dangers, headed by the prolific Double Powerful, who was arguably a bit unlucky not to complete a remarkable 7-timer at Ascot when last seen just before Christmas. Aston Martini and the reliable Irish Hill complete the shortlist.