14:45 Kempton

Sunday 20 October 2019

All14:1514:4515:2015:5016:2517:0017:35

Matchbook Betting Podcast Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 26.40s

Ballon Onabudget⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 122

6/1

Has improved with just about each and every start for Tom George, deservedly winning over hurdles at Newton Abbot (2m5½f, good to soft) a couple of months ago; doesn't necessarily face an easy task on chasing debut off a mark of 122.

Form: 28-2221

The Flying Sofa¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 121| D

7/1

Beaten at short odds on a couple of occasions over hurdles but rounded off last season taking a very winnable Plumpton maiden (2m, good) by 3¾L; carries plenty of weight on chasing/seasonal debut; stablemate of El Hageb Rose.

Form: 322021-

Ballymountain Boy^p³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: M Keighley| OR: 120| C

10/1

Seldom seen in competitive action since finishing fifth of 22 at Cheltenham in April 2018; has won over hurdles here (2m5f) in the past and could feasibly strip fitter for a recent run; best watched on chasing debut.

Form: 11639/5

New Agenda¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber| OR: 118

16/1

Raced freely on seasonal reappearance at Ludlow (2m4f, good); 0-3 over fences, and the jury is still very much out for deliberation over the larger obstacles; others preferred at this stage.

Form: P/P01-44

Oleg¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126

1/1

French import who is 2-3 since joining Paul Nicholls; made a fairly promising chasing debut when beating Vinnie The Hoddie by 2¼L over 2m at Wincanton (good to firm) 11 days ago; 6lb higher and can be fancied to kick on positively.

Form: 212-1

Celtic Joy¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 115

8/1

Eight-race maiden (0-6 over hurdles); stayed on at the same pace when finishing 3½L runner-up to The Accountant at Stratford (2m2f+, good to soft) a fortnight ago; sits 4lb higher for chasing debut; couldn't be discounted.

Form: 55372-2

Tiffin Top¹³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 122

14/1

A regular at Kempton over hurdles (3,2,2), albeit soundly beaten by the free-going Locker Room Talk over 2m (good) in May; wouldn't appeal as an obvious type for the larger obstacles but is in safe hands with Alan King and Adrian Heskin.

Form: 313-226

El Hageb Rose¹⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 103

33/1

Has shown only a limited amount of ability over hurdles for his doubly-represented trainer (also saddles The Flying Sofa); heavily eased when a remote second of three over 2m6f at Fontwell (novices' hurdle) in April; chasing debut.

Form: 766722-

The Premier Celtic¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 100

20/1

Won a weak 2m maiden hurdle at Plumpton (good) in February 2018; 0-8 over the smaller obstacles since, showing very little during 2019; essentially difficult to consider as a realistic contender on chasing debut.

Form: 80559-8

Non-Runners

Malangen²³

Weight: 11-3| Age: 4

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Oleg (1/1), Ballon Onabudget (6/1), The Flying Sofa (7/1), Malangen (7/1), Celtic Joy (8/1), Ballymountain Boy (10/1), Tiffin Top (14/1), New Agenda (16/1), The Premier Celtic (20/1), El Hageb Rose (33/1)

Ballon Onabudget doesn't necessarily face an easy task on his chasing debut, while the consistent four-year-old Malangen (David Pipe) is rising steadily in the weights. Tiffin Top and Celtic Joy shouldn't be discounted on their respective chasing debuts, although the Emma Lavelle-trained runner is the more logical option with race-fitness assured. However, it's difficult to escape the alluring claims of the former French-racer OLEG. He made a winning chasing debut for Paul Nicholls in a small-field affair at Wincanton (2m) and is fancied to kick on positively despite a 6lb rise in the weights.