12:55 Kempton

Monday 11 November 2019

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

racingtv.com Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 5m 15.53s

Celtic Joy²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 120| C

9/4

Displayed a determined attitude when making a winning chasing debut here (2m2f, good) three weeks ago, beating The Flying Sofa by ½L; 5lb higher with an additional 2½f to cover; broadly solid credentials.

Form: 5372-21

Dorking Cock³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 120| BF

5/1

Useful hurdler (122-rated); was somewhat of a disappointment when a beaten 5-2f on his chasing debut at Hexham (2m4f, soft); evidently is thought better than that bare form and no surprise if he fares better at this flatter track; worth risking?

Form: 73112-6

Gleno³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 118| D

14/1

Won three times over hurdles from February onward (2m4f-2m6f), including from a mark of 120 at Fontwell (good) in May; rather ponderous on chasing debut (finished an eased last of seven); stablemate of Crystal Lad.

Form: 81161-7

Crystal Lad¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117

8/1

Competed over fences for the first time in 18 months or so (0-6) when finishing fifth of eight to De Forgotten One at Stratford (2m6½f, soft) 11 days ago; is ever so slightly more appealing than his stablemate Gleno.

Form: 9/P267-5

Ballymountain Boy^p,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 117| CD

6/1

Hasn't done much racing since April 2018, so can be expected to improve for his recent chasing debut (here 2m2f) - finished three places and in excess of 10L behind the reopposing Celtic Joy; place claims with a clear round of fencing.

Form: 1639/54

Kilbrew Boy²¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case| OR: 113| D

8/1

Made all, and had the run of the race when winning a small field maiden hurdle at Fakenham (2m4f, good to soft) last December; broadly consistent since; no reason why he shouldn't take to chasing, but may just need this race off a 215-day absence.

Form: 614536-

Net De Treve²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 113| D

15/2

Uttoxeter maiden hurdle winner (2m4f, good); is yet to excel over fences (0-3), although did show a fraction more promise when beaten approximately 10L (fourth) by Vendredi Trios here (3m) three weeks ago; drops back in trip.

Form: 175-3P4

Sammy Bill²¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 110

12/1

Black Sam Bellamy gelding who fetched £90,000 in December 2018 after finishing runner-up in Rathcannon maiden (3m, good); glimmers of ability over hurdles, and can hopefully kick on more positively now switched to fences; monitor only at present.

Form: 2535-

Malangen^b,t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 119| D

25/1

One of the more experienced chasers in this field despite his tender age of four; 8lb higher than when dead-heating with Salto Chisco at Bangor (2m1½f, good) in August; is possibly strongest over a shorter trip, so can be overlooked on that basis.

Form: 221F24

Forecasts

Celtic Joy (9/4), Dorking Cock (5/1), Ballymountain Boy (6/1), Net De Treve (15/2), Kilbrew Boy (8/1), Crystal Lad (8/1), Sammy Bill (12/1), Gleno (14/1), Malangen (25/1)

Celtic Joy displayed battling tendencies when making a successful chasing debut here (2m2f) three weeks ago, and there's every likelihood that this longer trip will be within his range, while the lightly raced Oliver Sherwood-trained Sammy Bill should be monitored for signs of market support with chasing likely to be his forte. However, it's probably worth forgiving DORKING COCK for a modest debut over fences at Hexham. The suspicion is that he's a much better horse than that bare form suggests (his hurdles record is testimony to that fact) and he may appreciate the switch to this flatter and more conventional (right-handed) track.