15:02 Kempton

Saturday 22 February 2020

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

Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 3m 53.23s

Bathsheba Bay^p,t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 121| D

20/1

Returning from a break when making a winning handicap debut over an extended 1m7f at Musselburgh (good-to-soft) three weeks ago. Rated just 121 currently and more needed if he's to take this contest.

Form: 3211

Benson²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland

10/1

Bumper winner over an extended 2m at Market Rasen (soft) in November. Finished fourth in a Listed bumper subsequently and ran well prior to unseating in a 2m Listed event at Sandown (heavy) on his hurdling debut earlier this month.

Form: 5-814R

Buzz¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| D

6/4

Unbeaten in two starts since joining this stable most recently when battling to a neck victory in a novice hurdle over an extended 2m at Doncaster (good) just over two weeks ago. Leading contender stepping up in grade.

Form: 11

Calgary Tiger³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: W De Best-Turner

150/1

Best effort in four bumper starts came when finishing sixth over an extended 2m at Newbury (heavy) last month. Looks up against it on first start over hurdles.

Form: 008-6

Faire Part Sivola²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Chester Williams| T: Nick Williams| OR: 131| D

10/1

Made a winning debut over hurdles when scoring by 6L over an extended 1m7f at Leicester (heavy) in December. Beaten a head in a big field over an extended 1m7f at Wincanton (heavy) subsequently and is of interest once more.

Form: 16-12

Garry Clermont¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 131| D

20/1

Point-to-point and bumper winner has won twice over 2m at Ludlow from four starts over hurdles this campaign. Most recent success came by 1½L on soft ground earlier this month. Interesting to see how he fares on this occasion.

Form: 1-13131

Highway One O Two^h⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 135| D

4/1

Unbeaten in two starts over hurdles most recently by 11L over 2m on soft going at Plumpton early last month. Made all that day and looks likely to play a leading role upped in class.

Form: 50-2411

Kid Commando³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| D

15/2

Decent fifth in a Listed bumper on heavy ground at Ascot in December and justified short price favouritism when winning by 11L over 2m at Plumpton (soft) on last months hurdling debut. Notable runner on his first start in Graded company.

Form: 51-1251

West Cork^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| D

5/1

Unbeaten in two starts since tongue tie has been applied including by 7L in a soft ground 2m novice race at Huntingdon just under a month ago. Strong claims stepping up in class for a top yard.

Form: 1-2211

Forecasts

Buzz (6/4), Highway One O Two (4/1), West Cork (5/1), Kid Commando (15/2), Faire Part Sivola (10/1), Benson (10/1), Garry Clermont (20/1), Bathsheba Bay (20/1), Calgary Tiger (150/1)

HIGHWAY ONE O TWO has impressed in both hurdles starts to date and he can maintain his unbeaten record by registering a victory in this Grade 2 novices' contest. The selection can get the better of Buzz, who is also unbeaten in two hurdling starts while third place can go the way of Faire Part Sivola who was narrowly beaten under a penalty last time.