15:30 Kempton

Friday 8 February 2019

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

Matchbook Casino Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 5f | 10 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 110

Interesting sort in this sphere especially as his reduced mark now allows him to run in this lesser grade. Very well handicapped on his smart Flat form he's not been able to reproduce that over hurdles yet; chance he will here given the opposition.

Form: 557665

Statistical¹⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 110

First GB/stable run (formerly trained in Ireland) winning his last start over fences; has looked better in that sphere. Went with real zest last time but hasn't as yet shown the same enthusiasm over hurdles and a watching brief is advised.

Form: 0P-5621

King Cool^p¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 100| CD

C&D winner last time out (well-backed); returned from 10 weeks off with cheekpieces back on; appeared to relish the task. Suited by the way the race developed and the chances are that he will need a similar scenario to repeat off a 7lb higher mark.

Form: 32-1581

Shillingsworth²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 106

Failed to complete in two of his last three races but has on occasions looked capable of better if his jumping holds up. Tried over 3m plus last time out (failed to stay); back in trip here with a chance but has yet to win a race.

Form: 57-3FF7

Canny Tom¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: D Frankland| OR: 105

The wind op that he had appeared to allow him to take a step in the right direction last time; failed for the most part to get into the race though. His previous form isn't that promising; needs to show more than he did at Warwick to be of interest.

Form: 380707

Don't Tell George⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 105WS

Wore a first-time tongue tie last time (return from a wind op); shaped as if in need of the run and a reduced mark. His mark has fallen by 3lb here but he did finish well held last time and his previous form was fairly modest even in this grade.

Form: 0444-8

Affaire D'Honneur^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 102

Took a selling hurdle for Kevin Frost last September (last run for that yard); showed little on his debut for this stable returned to handicap company. May well have needed the run plus the trip looked too short; not written off, quirky sort though.

Form: 09P216

Loud As Lions²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: T Symonds| OR: 101

His novice form did hint that he had some ability and he looked the sort who would improve in handicaps. Failed to live up to that limited promise though on his debut in this sphere, finishing well held at Ffos Las (well found in the market).

Form: 48-3F50

Some Operator^p1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 97

Winning point-to-pointer who wasn't exactly cheap with his novice hurdles starts showing promise for handicaps. Ran no sort of race on his handicap debut though (11-2 chance); finished well beaten; from a respected stable, worth another chance.

Form: 1-5480

Patience Tony^t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr Aiden Blakemore⁽⁷⁾| T: L Egerton| OR: 90WS

Yet to win over hurdles (0-10) his second in early December at Musselburgh rates his best piece of form but even a repeat of that would leave him short here. Two quick starts after that appeared to rather bottom him out; returns from a break.

Form: 6352P7

Forecasts

King Cool (11/8), Statistical (3/1), The Major General (10/1), Affaire D'Honneur (10/1), Loud As Lions (12/1), Shillingsworth (14/1), Don't Tell George (14/1), Some Operator (14/1), Patience Tony (20/1), Canny Tom (25/1)

One or two interesting sorts in this and a leap of faith is taken to offer SOME OPERATOR as the suggestion despite his poor run last time. Ian Williams is no stranger to getting sorts like this ready for handicaps and if he can be forgiven his initial handicap start the promise he showed in novice hurdles may show here. The Major General is another similar sort he needs to show more but his Flat form is way in advance of what anything else has shown here and off a reduced mark he’s of interest. King Cool won well over C&D last time but everything fell his way last time and it may well be that Loud As Lions and Affaire D’Honneur are greater dangers.