15:05 Kempton

Thursday 27 December 2018

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

32Red.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 6m 2.85s

Exitas¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 144| C

14/1

On the go since May, running 14 times with two wins along the way. Maybe didn't quite last 3m5f at Sandown latest although still third. Hard to believe there's much room to manoeuvre off this mark but always runs his race.

Form: 122123

Adrien Du Pont^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144

9/2

Winner of his chase debut at Fontwell but couldn't add to that although bumped into several smart performers and generally remained competitive. Not at best in two starts this season so will need more now with handicapper unrelenting.

Form: 232F-47

Springtown Lake²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 142

11/4

Useful dual hurdle winner transitioned smoothly to chasing when winning at Sandown despite jumping left on occasions. Close second next at Haydock where he jumped straighter and big chance off this mark.

Form: 2310-12

Wandrin Star^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 137| D

8/1

Two from three this season with bloodless wins at Bangor twice. Upped 12lb for most recent of them but won by 14L there so not unreasonable and could remain on the up given low mileage overall. Respected.

Form: 42-2161

Kilcrea Vale¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137| BF| D

5/1

Not the easiest to win with but good fourth to end last term and third to start this over national fences at Aintree. Upped further 2lb so task gets no easier here but should go well with jumping obviously an ace card.

Form: 36254-3

Just A Sting⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 137| D

10/3

Failed to win over hurdles but two from two over fences with wins at Uttoxeter and Exeter where he didn't look altogether straightforward. 6lb rise for that but confident there's more to come and big player here.

Form: 2338-11

Deauville Dancer^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: David Dennis| OR: 137| C

20/1

Excellent record over fences and further enhanced that win here over 2m4½f last time out. Up 12lb for that and first time beyond 2m5f here so has a few questions to answer but couldn't rule her out.

Form: 04-6541

Ballyheigue Bay^p,t¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: J J Burke| T: C Gordon| OR: 120| CD

16/1

Dual hurdles winner but not won over fences since early 2015. Remote third of four on return to action over fences and for all he should come on for that others make considerably more appeal.

Form: 11232-3

Non-Runners

Holly Bush Henry⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: P W Middleton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Springtown Lake (11/4), Just A Sting (10/3), Adrien Du Pont (9/2), Kilcrea Vale (5/1), Wandrin Star (8/1), Holly Bush Henry (8/1), Exitas (14/1), Ballyheigue Bay (16/1), Deauville Dancer (20/1)

JUST A STING made hard work of things at Exeter latest but he looks the sort to improve for a sterner test which this is and given his age and relative inexperience he should have plenty more to come so gets the vote here. Main danger looks to be Springtown Lake who has also started well over fences and he looks sure to go well providing he doesn't jump left like he did at Sandown two starts back. Kilcrea Vale completes the shortlist and his recent exploits at Aintree highlight how good a jumper he has.