14:00 Kempton

Monday 9 April 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Matchbook Betting Exchange Novices' Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 4m 5.6s

Highway One O One³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 131| D

7/4

Bumper and dual novice hurdle winner who likes to lead and did so in those two wins. Thrown in at the deep end under a change of tactics for his handicap debut after a 10 week break and failed to get involved; has to cope with a double penalty.

Form: 112210

Equus Amadeus²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: T Lacey

5/1

Already a winner in a bumper and over hurdles he probably needed the run last time out after a substantial break but still shaped better than his final position. Very considerately handled after racing freely he's likely to come on for that run.

Form: 33-11P5

Lungarno Palace²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| D

3/1

A fair sort on the Flat he made a successful hurdles/stable debut at Huntingdon winning in good style and looking a cut above his rivals. Travelled well throughout and looks open to further improvement even under a penalty.

Form: 1

Jaboticaba⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| D

7/1

A winner on the Flat and over hurdles in France he was easy to back on his GB/stable debut at Warwick (2m, soft). Took a fairly strong hold in that race and may be able to settle better here which will aid his finishing effort; improving sort.

Form: 12

Du Destin⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

40/1

Comes from a top stable but so far that's all he has to really recommend him as he's shown very little in three hurdles runs. Made plenty of mistakes last time out and will need to show far more to make an impression.

Form: 0960

Head Lad¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

100/1

Went backwards from his debut in a big-field Newbury novice hurdle (2m, soft) when starting 150/1 finishing well held. Looks one for the longer term once he has a mark.

Form: 80

Ilewin Geez⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann

11/2

Bumper winner on debut when with Gary Moore he must have had some problems as he's been off for a long period before reappearing for his current yard (hurdles debut). Showed that he retained plenty of ability when finishing second on that run.

Form: 13/2

Market Court³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Gifford

150/1

Looked as though he needed the run on his bumper debut but has looked limited switched to hurdles. Both runs so far have been very ordinary and he looks to be one of the minor players here.

Form: 6-9P

Stanza Boy³⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Dave Crosse| T: D Faulkner

200/1

After making little impression on his bumper debut it has been much the same story in two subsequent hurdles starts. Ran poorly last time out and of little interest here.

Form: 879-

Gamekeeper Bill¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: T E Whelan| T: A Bailey

100/1

Even in bumpers his stamina over 2m was called into question and he shaped no better in his one hurdle runs so far. Once again looked limited on the stamina front and can only be watched for now.

Form: 57068

Salix¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling

33/1

Won over 1m4f on his only Flat start in France before switching to hurdles for his current yard. Despite being well supported on both his hurdles starts he's raced too freely on both occasions and finished well beaten; may do better in future.

Form: 46

Mazalto¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: P Phelan

33/1

Has got steadily better over hurdles with her jumping proving to be far more fluent last time out and would be an interesting sort for handicaps once she has a mark. Needs a truly-run race to be seen to best effect.

Form: UF5

Miss Malarky¹⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: Mrs L C Jewell

200/1

Yet to run over hurdles and makes her debut here having only shown poor form in four bumpers. Would need to take a big step forward here to make an impression and that's unlikely.

Form: 69-69

Forecasts

Highway One O One (7/4), Lungarno Palace (3/1), Equus Amadeus (5/1), Ilewin Geez (11/2), Jaboticaba (7/1), Salix (33/1), Mazalto (33/1), Du Destin (40/1), Gamekeeper Bill (100/1), Head Lad (100/1), Market Court (150/1), Stanza Boy (200/1), Miss Malarky (200/1)

It would look to be those carrying penalties that are of most interest here with Highway One O One dropping back into novice company after being given a tough handicap debut although he does have a double penalty to cope with here. EQUUS AMADEUS will have come on for the run last time out and providing he settles this time around he should be a much more solid proposition here. Lungarno Palace won on his hurdling debut last time and he’s another who can improve while Salix and Jaboticaba are both of interest if they can settle better. Ilewin Geez and Mazalto are two other that enter the mix in what is a decent opener to the card.