15:45 Kempton

Saturday 14 January 2017

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

32Red.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:49 | Winning time: 3m 55.7s

Meet The Legend^h,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138

10/3

Very promising youngster when campaigned up North in NHF races for Keith Dalgleish, and remains lightly raced for Dan Skelton. A winner for this yard at Newbury in February 2016, a return to Kelso for the Premier Hurdle last March was just a step too far, and entitled to come on for recent handicap and seasonal reappearance at Ascot.

Form: 12513-

Ozzie The Oscar⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138

5/1

Proved himself to be a smart novice last season, and after taking a Taunton maiden hurdle in March, went onto record further victories at Newbury and Ludlow in April. He returned from a break to score (penalised) at Wetherby in October, before losing his place quickly (as if something was amiss) when tried in the Listed Gerry Fielden Hurdle at Newbury in November. Capable if well despite the burden of joint top weight.

Form: 3111-2

New Member¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: T Lacey| OR: 132

15/2

Two time winner over hurdles from six starts, but has done the bulk of his racing on decent ground. His most recent success was at Huntingdon in Decmeber, and he wasn't beaten far here next time over Christmas when fourth to Bigmartre in a similar contest. Raised a further 2lb to a mark of 132, but clear chance.

Form: 3-87133

Allee Bleue³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128

12/1

Front runner and three time winner in maiden and novice hurdles last season (twice at Huntingdon), as well as a fine fifth placed effort from a 7lb higher mark than today's in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March. Heavily eased after a mistake two out (midfield) when last of thirteen on seasonal return at Cheltenham last month, and entitled to come on for that run. Attractively weighted with rider removing a further handy 7lbs.

Form: 10-0512

Ashoka²⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Matt Griffiths| T: D Skelton| OR: 125

33/1

Ex Irish Flat racer (Michael Halford), but did well for this yard last season including on debut when landing a Soft ground juvenile hurdle at Warwick. Pulled up and dismounted after the first when last seen on handicap debut at Sandown in April.

Form: P0611-3

River Frost⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| OR: 123

9/4

Winner on the Flat in France (AW at Marseille Pont-de-Vivaux), and built upon a debut third for new connections when nudged out by today's rider in a moderate Plumpton novices hurdle in late December. Difficult to assess and likely capable of more on handicap debut off 123, which could prove an exploitable mark.

Form: 31

Gannicus^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: B G Powell| OR: 120

66/1

Four time Flat winner, reaching a peak in the low 70's and finished third here on hurdles debut in November to better rivals. Not able to build upon that since at either Ludlow or Wincanton and looks vulnerable here on handicap debut.

Form: /-368

Cool Sky¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 118

13/2

Regularly mixes hurdling with Flat racing, and did win off this mark at Plumpton in September 2014. Short head runner up on Boxing Day at Fontwell, but this looks a stronger contest.

Form: 3110/3-8

Ryeolliean^p³⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: A Glassonbury| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115

20/1

Sole hurdles win came in maiden company at Plumpton in May 2015, with best effort since on penultimate start at Wincanton in early December when finishing second of five to an odds on winner. Eighth of 15 here last time, weakening after racing prominently.

Form: 7P28-36

Non-Runners

Artifice Sivola¹³

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: L Wadham J: 2nd Preference

Forecasts

River Frost (9/4), Meet The Legend (10/3), Ozzie The Oscar (5/1), Artifice Sivola (6/1), Cool Sky (13/2), New Member (15/2), Allee Bleue (12/1), Ryeolliean (20/1), Ashoka (33/1), Gannicus (66/1)

Given connections, one must be massively fearful that River Frost will take a mighty step forward and make a mockery of his mark of 123. Both Meet The Legend and Ozzie The Oscar were abundantly talented novices, but pay the price here shouldering joint top weights of 11st 12lbs. New Member has to hold every chance off a 2lbs higher mark for a good run over Christmas, but a speculative chance is taken that ALLEE BLEUE can bounce back and make all from a most appealing handicap mark to score at decent odds. 1. Allee Bleue 2. New Member 3. River Frost