15:40 Kempton

Tuesday 26 December 2017

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

32red Download The App Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 20.30s

Our Kaempfer^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 141| CD

33/1

Scored ready win over fences here in January (3m, good to soft) but has been pulled up in three starts since, often undone by his jumping. On a potentially useful mark reverting to this discipline.

Form: 3U1PP-P

Dashing Oscar^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 140

15/2

Scored at Fontwell and Bangor in handicaps this term, latest over 2m3½f on soft ground, raised 5lb on strength of that effort and respected. Will go on any ground.

Form: 1329-11

Connetable^b¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135

12/1

Efforts this year have been mostly poor but offered a reminder of his ability at Sandown (2m7½f, good to soft) when just denied earlier this month. Solid chance at these weights now down in trip.

Form: 06-8052

Minella Charmer^t⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 134| D

28/1

Has fallen in three of his previous four starts (latest two over hurdles), hard to be confident in the circumstances and career-best effort likely called for to take this.

Form: 15/F3F-F

Jaleo²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 132

14/1

Has shown some useful form for this yard but jumping isn't the most reliable (two falls in four starts in 2017). Shaped well on return to action at Newbury (2m4½f, good to soft) this month and eased a useful 2lb if building on that.

Form: 0/1F3F-7

Kildisart³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 128

3/1

Second runner for Ben Pauling, took an Ascot maiden hurdle (2m3½f, good to soft) last month on second start over timber. Handicap bow in this and could be set to run big race from what appears a fair opening mark.

Form: 2/2-21

Doesyourdogbite^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127| CD

9/1

Won this contest 12 months ago on handicap bow, has not shown anything since however in six outings. Failed to beat a rival home in two starts this term but does line-up from 5lb lower mark than he won off last year.

Form: 6000-00

Whatduhavtoget^h1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| D

16/1

Mare was a useful novice over timber last season for the Skelton team. Well held in third of seven on reappearance at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) on reappearance, must improve in first-time hood to score in this.

Form: 212-0F4

Midnight Maestro³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| OR: 126| BF

9/2

Generally progressive last year, although disappointing on final start at Haydock. Decent on reappearance at Ascot in Listed handicap when 7L behind Elgin, no apparent excuse back there 32 days ago when disappointing favourite. Upped in trip.

Form: 921P-60

Golan Fortune^p⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 123

7/2

Has won a couple of conditional handicap hurdles this season over this sort of trip, including on Saturday at Ascot with a bit in hand off this rating. Interesting if quick turnaround doesn't compromise chances.

Form: 3301F1

Shanroe Saint¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Adrian Heskin| T: B I Case| OR: 123

40/1

Couple of placed efforts from four outings in novice hurdles (both have been over shorter trips), has plenty improvement to find on graduation into handicap company in what will be a competitive heat.

Form: F3-3625

Wolfcatcher^p,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122

20/1

Dual-purpose performer, hasn't set the world alight in two runs back over hurdles having failed to achieve much on the Flat over the summer. Doesn't appear well handicapped and others have more in their favour now.

Form: 0/0P-653

Mr Fickle^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Michael Heard⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| C| D

66/1

Experienced campaigner whose record over timber ready 3-24, no match for Golan Fortune at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) last month and readily dismissed again at Lingfield since. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 5P12-98

Rothman^p,t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Bryony Frost⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 114| D

16/1

Pair of solid efforts in handicaps at Plumpton last month over this sort of trip. Will go in soft ground and interesting here with Bryony Frost taking a handy 5lb off.

Form: 63-3S22

Non-Runners

Take To Heart³¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Kildisart (3/1), Golan Fortune (7/2), Midnight Maestro (9/2), Dashing Oscar (15/2), Take To Heart (8/1), Doesyourdogbite (9/1), Connetable (12/1), Jaleo (14/1), Rothman (16/1), Whatduhavtoget (16/1), Wolfcatcher (20/1), Minella Charmer (28/1), Our Kaempfer (33/1), Shanroe Saint (40/1), Mr Fickle (66/1)

CONNETABLE hasn't enjoyed a great time of it in 2017 but he bounced back to form at Sandown recently over a longer trip and is appealingly weighted now dropped in distance if that was a sign that a corner has been turned. He can ensure former champion trainer Paul Nicholls leaves Kempton on Boxing Day with a smile on his face. Handicap debutant Kildisart is well worthy of consideration on the back of his maiden win at Ascot last time out while Dashing Oscar is bidding for a hat-trick after wins at Fontwell and Bangor and isn't easy to ignore. Golan Fortune runs from an unchanged mark after winning at Ascot on Saturday while Rothman has been running well lately and could do so again with his rider taking off 5lb.