13:15 Kempton

Saturday 23 February 2019

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

888Sport Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 5m 2.65s

Erick Le Rouge⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 134| CD

7/2

Three-from-three this season since joining this yard following wins at Bangor and Warwick with a C&D success on Boxing Day. 5lb higher again but ground conditions ideal and bold bid again looks assured.

Form: 452-111

And The New^h,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Farrelly| OR: 133

40/1

Doncaster novice winner last season but somewhat hit and miss this season with s decent second sandwiched between two quite laboured efforts. Finished tamely over C&D latest and risky proposition now.

Form: 313-029

Canyon City⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 131

25/1

Back-to-back wins followed by second placed finishes before uncharacteristically underperforming latest in the Lanzarote. Beaten a neck off this mark two starts back and bounce back entirely possible.

Form: 711220

Rocco⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130

12/1

2m Chepstow novice winner has found life a little tougher since over trips ranging from 2m4½f to 3m. Underperformed in only previous handicap but overall form would suggest he's up to this mark so can't be ruled out.

Form: 9-14535

Champagne Champ³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: L P Aspell| T: B R Millman| OR: 130

12/1

Chepstow maiden success last season the highlight of his three hurdle races to date. Unable to win on the flat since although latest AW second here one of his better efforts. Opening mark looks likely to be his limit.

Form: 312-

Burrows Edge³⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| D

4/1

Won twice as a novice last term and season ended with 6L sixth of 20 in valuable 2m Sandown series final. That race worked out exceptionally well and looked likely to be better still over further so claims strong despite layoff.

Form: 241126-

Not That Fuisse⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 129

11/2

No match for subsequent Betfair winner/Supreme favourite Al Dancer at Cheltenham but gained third win of the season next at Taunton. 4lb rise for that doesn't look harsh by any means and should have no problem with longer trip.

Form: 152621

Potterman⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 126| D

8/1

Won a couple of times in the summer before finishing fourth over C&D and fifth at Doncaster. Handicap falling so getting closer to competitive mark all the time and relatively unexposed still.

Form: 23-1145

Lisdoonvarna Lad^p1³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 124| BF

33/1

Unsuccessful spell chasing culminated in a fall last time out. Hurdles form better and gained success at Wetherby in December '17 but mark over smaller obstacles also remains higher.

Form: 35-440F

Call To Order^p⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124

33/1

Chase winner in the summer struggled afterwards before returned to hurdles latest where he was an 8L fifth at Ludlow over 3m. 2lb lower her and drop back in trip may be in his favour but others preferred.

Form: 2132P5

Rhythm Is A Dancer^t⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 124| D

8/1

Won back-to-back 2m5½f races at Wincanton including first handicap before finishing fifth there latest in a warmer contest. Gets 3lb back now and sounder surface here also to suit. Trainer's recent form quite exceptional.

Form: 4-12115

Klare Castle³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: P J Brennan| T: S Edmunds| OR: 121

11/1

Shown ability without seriously threatening over hurdles before upped to 2m7½f latest where he struggled plenty. Still quite early days but of limited appeal in this very decent contest.

Form: 22U-438

Deebaj⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 118| BF

14/1

Gained second hurdles success on heavy ground at Lingfield and only beaten a neck subsequently when third at Uttoxeter on similar conditions. This a stronger race and very different conditions likely.

Form: 70-7513

Forecasts

Erick Le Rouge (7/2), Burrows Edge (4/1), Not That Fuisse (11/2), Potterman (8/1), Rhythm Is A Dancer (8/1), Klare Castle (11/1), Champagne Champ (12/1), Rocco (12/1), Deebaj (14/1), Canyon City (25/1), Lisdoonvarna Lad (33/1), Call To Order (33/1), And The New (40/1)

A chance is taken on the fitness of BURROWS EDGE for champion trainer Nicky Henderson despite this being his first race of the season. He concluded a good novice season with an eye-catching staying on sixth in a valuable series final at Sandown, a run since franked several times and he looked one to follow when upped in trip there. Among the dangers Not That Fuisse remains progressive and could find more for this slightly longer trip and Erick Le Rouge can't be ruled out as he bids for a four-time after C&D success last time out.