12:50 Kempton

Thursday 27 December 2018

All12:5013:2013:5514:3015:0515:35

32Red Casino Introductory Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 12:51 | Winning time: 3m 59.0s

San Seb²³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| D

9/2

Minor bumper performer but made a hugely impressive start to hurdles career when hacking up at 20/1 on hurdles bow at Fakenham. Penalised for that and meeting several with potential here but sets a good standard.

Form: 391

Ace Combat^t²²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: M Goldstein| T: M Madgwick

100/1

Roscommon maiden winner rated 72 on the flat. Recent stable debut at Kempton on the flat left plenty to be desired so other hurdle newcomers make more appeal.

Form:

Beat The Judge¹¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

25/1

Five-race maiden on the flat for Ed Vaughan from 1m-1m2f. Rated 68 at present so not one of the more obvious sorts but this yard can turn such horses into much better hurdlers.

Form:

Belargus²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: N J Gifford

10/1

Dual French flat winner for Pascal Bary seemed to tire on hurdles debut at Sandown on heavy ground having travelled and jumped well enough. Flatter track and faster ground here a help so expecting better now.

Form: 5

Chaparral Prince¹⁰⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J HendersonWS

16/1

Flat maiden made little impression on hurdles debut at Fontwell when ninth of 14 beaten 30L. Had a wind-op in subsequent break so better expected now and too early to rule out for trainer unparalleled in this sphere.

Form: 9

Nebuchadnezzar⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| BF

7/4

69-rated flat maiden was heavily backed on hurdles debut at Bangor in a maiden contest but he had to settle for second best there although only beaten 1¼L. That form among the best on offer so chances here look pretty solid.

Form: 2

Olympic Odyssey¹⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| BF

6/1

Nottingham winner on the flat rated 66. Hurdles debut now for highly respected connections so fully expecting him to know the job and certainly one of the most likely newcomers to the code.

Form:

Playa Blanca¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Daniel Sansom| T: J W Mullins

100/1

68-rated flat maiden finished a well beaten seventh of 11 on his hurdles bow at Fontwell. Huge improvement on that needed if he's to make the frame.

Form: 7

Prabeni^t⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: J McGrath| T: C J Mann

25/1

69 rated on the flat for William Haggas after winning final start over 1m4f. Had a few issues along the way but well bred sort appealed as the sort with more to come so could be a shrewd purchase for connections and is respected here.

Form:

Deadline Diva⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| D

3/1

Two from three on the flat and comfortable winner of first hurdle race at Bordeaux Le Bouscat although only four ran. Joined top yard since and every chance she proves a smart recruit and a forward one so looks the one to beat.

Form: 1

Sheila's Empire³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr Frederick Tett| T: J S Moore

100/1

Lowest rated on the level at just 53 where she is still a maiden. First start over hurdles and would be somewhat surprising if she makes the frame.

Form:

Forecasts

Nebuchadnezzar (7/4), Deadline Diva (3/1), San Seb (9/2), Olympic Odyssey (6/1), Belargus (10/1), Chaparral Prince (16/1), Beat The Judge (25/1), Prabeni (25/1), Playa Blanca (100/1), Sheila's Empire (100/1), Ace Combat (100/1)

Not the easiest race to decipher with runners allowed a maximum of one run over hurdles. Two of these have won their first race over timber and they look the ones to concentrate on with preference for Paul Nicholls' new recruit DEADLINE DIVA whose combined flat and hurdles record is three from four. San Seb was very impressive at Fakenham and is an obvious danger while Bangor second Nebuchadnezzar is another with obvious claims with the aforementioned duo both carrying 5lb penalties.