13:45 Kempton

Monday 6 May 2019

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Matchbook Betting Exchange Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 3m 43.9s

Tiffin Top²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 125| BF| D

9/4

Useful Flat performer when with John Gosden who has shown gradual progress over hurdles winning at the third time of asking at Hereford (2m, good). Found out under a penalty when last seen (short -priced favourite); could be vulnerable again.

Form: 4313-

Lantiern^h⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| D

11/4

Showed the benefit of wind surgery when winning an AW bumper at Lingfield (had already had two bumper starts prior to that). Failed to concede his penalty at Huntingdon but a third to two nice types should be viewed positively; hurdles debut.

Form: 5513-

Ledbury³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: J R Jenkins

100/1

Poor maiden on the Flat who appears to stay 2m but a 0-17 record in that sphere is hardly an appealing statistic as he makes his debut over hurdles. Hard to see him making much of an impact in this.

Form:

Mystic Court²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling

12/1

Point-to-point winner on his third start (first time he had completed over 2m4f) who shaped with some promise on his bumper debut. Failed to match that form as yet in two subsequent starts (still learning); has a future over jumps.

Form: UF/1567-

War Drums^h⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: P R WebberWS

20/1

Maiden on the Flat (capable of some fair form) when with John Butler; departed that yard for 23,000 guineas in October. Made a less than encouraging start to his hurdling career at Fakenham; undergone a wind op since that hurdling debut.

Form: P-

West Coast Flyer⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

9/2

Half-brother to three winners including a fairly useful hurdler/chaser Lava Lamp; has a decent Flat strike-rate (6-20); been a little below his best on the AW of late. Stays well on the Flat and an interesting newcomer for the time of year.

Form:

Toshima^t⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: C Gethings| T: R StephensWS

50/1

Lightly-raced on the Flat but does have a 1m4f AW win to his name when with Ed Walker. Quite a cheap purchase considering his pedigree but despite a wind op has folded up quickly on both his hurdles starts; not hard to have doubts.

Form: P8-

Twist⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

7/1

Made his debut in a bumper despite being Flat-bred looking a little short of stamina before being switched to the Flat for this yard (AW winner over 1m2f). Now returns to the jumps scene to make his hurdling debut; chance if stays better.

Form: 5-

Vision Clear²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 122

7/1

Useful sort on the Flat when with Ed Dunlop (stays 1m4f) and whilst there has been promise in his first two hurdles starts his jumping last time was very slipshod. Needs to address that issue before he can be given a clear chance over hurdles.

Form: 52U-

Forecasts

Tiffin Top (9/4), Lantiern (11/4), West Coast Flyer (9/2), Vision Clear (7/1), Twist (7/1), Mystic Court (12/1), War Drums (20/1), Toshima (50/1), Ledbury (100/1)

A fair split of talent here with some decent types from the Flat some already with jumping experience taking on one very interesting newcomer in WEST COAST FLYER who if he can jump would have every chance of taking this on his hurdling debut based on his Flat form. Another newcomer to hurdling Lantiern is also expected to get involved based on his bumper form with Gavin Sheehan taking over from an inexperienced amateur. Tiffin Top may once again be anchored by his penalty and there remains a doubt over Vision Clear in terms of jumping technique while Twist needs to show that he can stay well enough to compete in this sphere.