13:50 Kempton

Friday 8 February 2019

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3016:0016:30

Move Over To Matchbook Novices' Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 5f | 16 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 142| D

Winner of a Grade 2 hurdle at Cheltenham in November; failed to build on that run when given a stiffer task in the Challow Hurdle. Unsuited by the way the race developed (got tapped for speed); worth another chance despite a penalty down in grade.

Form: 205-F15

De Forgotten One³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: David Noonan| T: Tim Vaughan| D

Showed that he had ability on his bumper debut (point-to-point winner) and followed up with a win on his first attempt over hurdles (well supported). Had the run of a weak race at Doncaster but with the look of one who had more to offer.

Form: 161

Ratfacemcdougall¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 120

Off the mark over hurdles at the second attempt (had the run of the race; jumped well) he was given a tough task on his handicap debut. Well beaten on that occasion he should prove to be better suited by this test under a penalty.

Form: 21-0418

Article Fifty³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 120

Second run back from a wind op although judging by his first run since that procedure it hadn't really brought about any progress. A bumper winner on his debut he's so far underachieved in his hurdles starts.

Form: 13662-7

Black Centaur²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard

Successful on his sole outing in Irish point-to-points his hurdling debut when he finished at the rear of midfield at Chepstow (2m3f) showed him to be a longer-term project. 20-1 on that occasion he'll be looking to gain more experience here.

Form: 10

Colonel Keating³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe

Has shown some aptitude on both his hurdling starts without thinking that he is good enough to win something like this. Looks to have some longer term potential and needs this run for a handicap mark.

Form: 21-87

Dr Time⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds

Looked to show some ability on his bumper debut but looks the sort who will need time and that looked very much the case on his hurdling debut. Bred to be a stayer he took third in a small field; looks to be crying out for 3m plus.

Form: 73

Hook Lane Roobee⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: Miss S Smith

Placed in a point-to-point he stepped forward to win on his Rules debut taking a Plumpton bumper in fair style. Has offered little since being switched to hurdles after a break though; produced a very laboured effort last time.

Form: 1-P8

Hurricane Arcadio²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: M Blake

Placed in both his starts in Irish point-to-points he went with little promise on his debut over a shorter trip at Chepstow (hooded there). 100-1 on that occasion and likely to be at similar if not bigger odds here.

Form: 23P

Mcnamaras Band⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

Departed in luckless fashion on his hurdling debut having shown plenty of application and promise to win a bumper on his debut 18 months earlier. Still going well but slipped up last time having shown plenty of potential; open to improvement.

Form: 1-F

Pistol Whipped⁵¹

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

Only completed once in two Irish point-to-points (runner-up) but cost £110,000 and shaped with lots of potential on his only start so far (2m). Looked a little more inexperienced than others in that race (came third); progress assured at this trip.

Form: S23

Vent De Force⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Aiden Blakemore⁽⁷⁾| T: L Egerton

Fairly useful on the Flat despite not having won since taking a Group 3 over 2m at Sandown in May 2015. Finished well held when last seen and looked to be on the downgrade; now with a new yard but goes hurdling late in life.

Form:

L'chamise¹¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| D

Bumper form was only fair (three starts in that sphere; managed to make a winning start over hurdles although she was a little fortunate to do so (runner-up making a bad mistake at the last). Should do better but more is required here with a penalty.

Form: 1564-1

Eos⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs D Grissell

Very little form over hurdles so far having had two moribund outings for this yard both at big prices; failed to show much at all. Would be a major surprise if she proved good enough here.

Form: 095

Potters Vision⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

Only seen in two bumpers so far separated by a seven month break but has shown a little ability in both of those starts. Now makes her hurdles debut and there ought to be a little more to come but hard to see her troubling the principals.

Form: 2-56

The Crafty Touch⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

Twice a winner in Irish point-to-points including the last time she was seen in that discipline by 4L. Despite those wins she is given a fairly tough starts here and a watching brief looks to be the best advice.

Form: F-21F1

Non-Runners

Markov⁷⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: B Pauling J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Coolanly (9/4), Pistol Whipped (3/1), De Forgotten One (6/1), Mcnamaras Band (8/1), Ratfacemcdougall (14/1), L'chamise (14/1), The Crafty Touch (14/1), Article Fifty (16/1), Potters Vision (16/1), Markov (20/1), Dr Time (20/1), Vent De Force (20/1), Colonel Keating (33/1), Black Centaur (33/1), Hook Lane Roobee (66/1), Eos (66/1), Hurricane Arcadio (100/1)

Despite his penalty COOLANLY is the clear form pick in this having already won a Grade 2 and been disadvantaged by the slow pace when beaten in the Challow Hurdle last time. Pistol Whipped and McNamaras Band both have potential to do better and look as though they will improve for their initial outings. De Forgotten One faces a tougher task with his penalty but can’t be ruled out.