12:40 Kempton

Saturday 22 February 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0215:3516:1016:45

Betway Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 14.55s

No Hidden Charges⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 135| C

66/1

Decent fifth in a novice hurdle over this trip at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) in October but struggled on handicap debut upped to 3m at Newbury (good-to-soft) the following month. Return to this trip a positive on return from a break.

Form: 4-11150

Larkbarrow Lad^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 134

12/1

Making his first appearance since wind surgery when finishing 15L fifth in a Listed handicap hurdle over this C&D on good-to-soft ground last month. Races off a mark 6lb higher than when winning at Worcester (2m4f, good-to-soft) in October.

Form: 221-215

Palmers Hill⁴⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133| D

11/2

Winner of a handicap hurdle over this trip on good ground at Cheltenham in November 2018. Absent since and holds strong claims despite racing off a 9lb higher mark on this occasion.

Form: 31143/1-

Marlborough Sounds²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 132

25/1

Built on a couple of promising novice hurdle efforts for this yard when winning on handicap debut over an extended 2m1f at Fontwell (soft) just under a month ago. One to note off an 8lb higher mark stepping up in trip.

Form: 231

Storm Arising⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| BF

10/1

Running well in defeat since returning this season including when 2L third over an extended 2m5f at Wincanton (heavy) in December. Represents a top yard on his return from a short break.

Form: 513-443

Downtown Getaway⁸⁴

7/2

Victorious over an extended 2m5f at Ascot (good-to-soft) in January last year but struggled in Grade 1 company subsequently and has had wind surgery since disappointing on handicap debut at Newbury (good-to-soft) in November.

Form: 1/217-P

Eclat Des Mottes¹³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: M Keighley| OR: 130

100/1

Placed in a beginners chase at Listowel (2m6f, yielding) in September but disappointed in a small field at Limerick (2m6f, heavy) the following month. Returns to hurdles on debut for this stable.

Form: 5-30624

Howling Milan^t⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 128

10/1

Held a 3L advantage when coming down at the last in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m4f at Newbury (soft) at the end of December. Races off a 3lb higher mark here and is an interesting runner in this contest.

Form: 61-754F

Polish¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 128| D

6/1

Built on a promising second on hurdling and stable debut at Taunton (2m3f, soft) when winning over this trip by 2L at Ludlow (good-to-soft) earlier this month. Market support would be notable on handicap debut.

Form: 21

Our Power⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128

11/1

Debuting for this stable when beaten 12L into third in a handicap hurdle over this C&D on soft ground in December. Races off a 2lb lower mark on this occasion.

Form: 1494-63

Earth Moor²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 127

14/1

Making his first start in over a year when winning over 2m3f at Taunton (soft) on his penultimate start and finished a good second at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) subsequently. Promising amateur jockey on board last time out takes the ride.

Form: 2211-12

Misty Bloom²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 127| D

25/1

Held in two starts since winning a mares only handicap hurdle over an extended 2m5f at Wincanton (good-to-soft) by 6L in November. More needed racing off a mark 10lb higher than for that victory.

Form: 2-13105

Kuiper Belt²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 127

100/1

Pulled up on debut for this yard at Taunton (2m3f, soft) last month and was beaten 45L at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) subsequently. Promising conditional jockey in the saddle and market support would be notable.

Form: 52-78P0

Roseriver Has¹¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 123

100/1

Winner of a good ground maiden hurdle at Downpatrick (2m3f) in September but struggled in two subsequent starts including on the Flat at Leopardstown in October. Blinkers worn last time out are absent on debut for this yard.

Form: 4360-19

Midnightreferendum⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 123

14/1

Stepped up on her seasonal debut when finishing third over an extended 2m4f at Cheltenham (soft) in December. Given a braek since and races off a mark 7lb higher than when winning at Warwick (2m3f, good) in April.

Form: 1441-93

Top Man⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: L P Aspell| T: C Gordon| OR: 118| D

12/1

Point-to-point winner broke his maiden over hurdles when winning over an extended 2m4f at Plumpton (heavy) in December. Good third over the same C&D subsequently and interesting to see how he fares on handicap debut.

Form: 153613

Twenty Twenty^v²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 113

16/1

Finished in the frame on each of his last five starts including when runner-up over an extended 2m4f at Huntingdon (soft) just under a month ago. Likely more needed stepping up in grade.

Form: 933222

Forecasts

Downtown Getaway (7/2), Palmers Hill (11/2), Polish (6/1), Storm Arising (10/1), Howling Milan (10/1), Our Power (11/1), Top Man (12/1), Larkbarrow Lad (12/1), Midnightreferendum (14/1), Earth Moor (14/1), Twenty Twenty (16/1), Marlborough Sounds (25/1), Misty Bloom (25/1), No Hidden Charges (66/1), Roseriver Has (100/1), Eclat Des Mottes (100/1), Kuiper Belt (100/1)

MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS showed decent handicap form on the Flat and having taken well to hurdles he can make a winning handicap debut by taking the opening race on the card. The selection impressed when winning on handicap debut last time out and he can see off Palmers Hill who has won first time out in the past and is making his seasonal debut. Third place can go the way of Earth Moor who completed a hat-trick when winning his penultimate start and showed good form when placed last time.