15:00 Kempton

Saturday 23 February 2019

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

Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 3m 43.10s

Angels Breath⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| D

8/11

Hugely impressive on rules debut at Ascot over 2m saw him made favourite for Supreme Novices (since deposed) at the Festival. Missed engagements since due to Influenza outbreak but remains a very exciting prospect and expected to win this.

Form: 1-1

Brecon Hill^t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 137| D

25/1

Improved form this winter with wins at Huntingdon and Leicester in last three starts. Massive step up in class here however so likely to find life difficult.

Form: 15-4121

I K Brunel⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Geraghty| T: O Murphy

20/1

Bumper winner who shaped like a stayer when thrown in at the deep end in hot novice on hurdling bow (2m1f). Sure to improve with the experience under his belt but this looks another stiff task.

Form: 13

Normal Norman⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: J Ryan| OR: 128| D

40/1

Took record to two from five over hurdles when winning at Musselburgh last month on good to firm ground. This considerably tougher however but place not impossible.

Form: P-21271

Scarlet Dragon²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 136| D

7/2

Five-time winner and four-times Group placed on the Flat. Second in Grade Two company last term over hurdles in second start and easy winner at Huntingdon latest in first hurdle race since. Very classy prospect and genuine threat to Angels Breath.

Form: 29-1

Southfield Stone¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| BF| D

6/1

Three-time Taunton winner not beaten far into third in the Grade One Tolworth two starts back before second back at Taunton latest under a penalty. More exposed than some but has among the best form so bold bid expected.

Form: 3-11132

Tokay Dokey⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

14/1

Unbeaten so far having won a Market Rasen and two Uttoxeter novice hurdles, the second of which under a penalty. This a big step up in class but couldn't fail to be impressed last time so well worth his spot and not ruled out.

Form: 111

Non-Runners

Rouge Vif²⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: H Whittington J: G Sheehan

Daphne Du Clos²⁹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: N D Fehily

Forecasts

Angels Breath (8/11), Scarlet Dragon (7/2), Southfield Stone (6/1), Rouge Vif (10/1), Daphne Du Clos (12/1), Tokay Dokey (14/1), I K Brunel (20/1), Brecon Hill (25/1), Normal Norman (40/1)

Recently deposed Supreme Novices favourite ANGELS BREATH faces a serious test of his credentials here but if he is to be winning the Cheltenham opener he really ought to take this contest and he is taken to do so. High-class flat performer Scarlet Dragon looked likely to take similar order over hurdles at Huntingdon latest and is a big danger receiving 5lb from the selection. Best of the rest may be Southfield Stone.