15:35 Kempton

Thursday 27 December 2018

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

32Red Download The App Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 3m 52.8s

Unison¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 142| D

16/1

Eight-time hurdle winner no match for top class Verdana Blue here first time out but ran better next when third. Pulled-up at Hereford latest so few questions here although best form would give him a shout.

Form: 1P-353P

Malaya⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139| D

8/1

Former French trained filly won twice last season before coming up short at Grade One Level and again struggling at that level on reappearance when falling at the last in France. Only 5lb higher than handicap win last term and open to improvement.

Form: 12218-F

Pacific De Baune¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| D

3/1

Won a three-runner chase where only realistic rival departed before unseating himself in such a contest. Two from four last season over hurdles and could be open to improvement aplenty in first handicap for last year's winning connections.

Form: 1712-1U

Distingo^v³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 136| CD

7/1

Two from four last season and competitive in handicaps at Huntingdon and Ascot this season. Slightly more needed but still relatively early days so that is a possibility and he has solid each-way claims.

Form: 121P-23

Mystic Sky^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 131| BF| D

16/1

Four-time hurdle winner including penultimate start at Huntingdon. Second latest at Ludlow although only four ran there but she should remain competitive although is vulnerable to less exposed types.

Form: 973212

Dino Velvet²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 127| D

8/1

Taking winner at Ayr last season although struggled next. One paced on return at Wincanton when an 11L eighth of 12 so more needed but still a young horse and expect big step up on return effort.

Form: 5051-48

Great Hall¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: M Quinn| OR: 124| D

13/2

Classy flat performer doesn't race over hurdles too often but did so latest with good effort at Huntingdon when second beaten just 1L. Upped 4lb now still has potential aplenty off this sort of mark so genuine claims here.

Form: 43438/2

Maquisard¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 122| D

7/1

Good second here on stable debut on the level (AW) two weeks back. Out of sorts last twice over hurdles for previous yard but only 2lb higher than last win so chance if new yard has recaptured best form.

Form: 881F-P9

Romanor¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 122| D

16/1

Three-time winner over the summer but struggled since season proper started. Fourth at Huntingdon latest gives him 4½L to find with Great Hall although he is 4lb better off now. Others look better handicapped.

Form: 311044

Master Of Speed⁹⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: N F Houlihan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 120| CD

22/1

Maiden hurdle winner in May 2016 but absent in 955 days since. Hard to know what to expect of him now but similarly hard to be confident.

Form: 361/

Eddiemaurice¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J L Flint| OR: 119| D

9/1

3lb lower than last winning mark but on a long losing run now and return fourth of nine at Lingfield continued a run suggesting current handicap mark is above his current level of form.

Form: 42654-4

Jacbequick^v¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 114| D

11/1

Fakenham winner in October ran best race in three starts since latest when second of six at Leicester. Same mark here and not ruled out given feather weight.

Form: 4-41042

Forecasts

Pacific De Baune (3/1), Great Hall (13/2), Maquisard (7/1), Distingo (7/1), Dino Velvet (8/1), Malaya (8/1), Eddiemaurice (9/1), Jacbequick (11/1), Unison (16/1), Mystic Sky (16/1), Romanor (16/1), Master Of Speed (22/1)

Nicky Henderson won this race last year so knows exactly what is required so the decision to revert PACIFIC DE BAUNE back to hurdles has to be noted and this very lightly raced sort makes plenty of appeal here on his handicap debut. Also unexposed in handicaps is Malaya for yesterday's heroes Nicholls and Cobden and she too is a huge player. Good flat horse Great Hall went well over hurdles latest and she also enters the equation on the back of that effort.