14:05 Kempton

Saturday 14 March 2020

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

European Breeders Fund Paddy Power 'National Hunt' E.B.F. Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 10.65s

Keen On⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134

9/1

Winner of two starts over hurdles with his most recent victory coming over an extended 2m4f at Southwell (heavy); found things tougher when unable to land a blow in Grade 2 novice event at Warwick last time on soft ground.

Form: 2114

Sevarano^v1²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| OR: 133| C| D

12/1

Very consistent who has won twice this season after being an expensive horse to follow last year; decent effort under penalty last time but needs to improve plenty to be involved in the finish here.

Form: 43-1142

McFabulous³⁹

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

5/2

High-class bumper performer who won a Grade 2 event at Aintree last April; has been quietly coming to hand over hurdles winning last time out at Market Rasen; more on his plate here but going in the right direction.

Form: 711-241

Falco Blitz⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

10/1

Facile winner of a Fakenham maiden before twice running well in Cheltenham handicaps; excellent effort last time out to score well at Ascot on heavy ground; better expected conditions will suit and one for the shortlist.

Form: 22-1241

Hurricane Harvey⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: F O'Brien| OR: 131| D

11/1

Has been showing progressive form this season winning his last two races at Ludlow and Wincanton; this is his toughest task to date and will need to improve on his bare form to get involved.

Form: 223-211

Igor²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131| BF

25/1

Appeared to be on the upgrade with excellent efforts in defeat at Cheltenham and Warwick; possibly did not appreciate step back in trip when below par last time at Doncaster; worth another chance most definitely.

Form: 7-21664

Hometown Boy³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 130

14/1

Front runner who got off the mark decisively at Market Rasen in December before tiring in the closing stages last time at the same track; needs to improve slightly but not without a chance.

Form: 1-43312

Eden Du Houx^p1,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 130

11/1

Won both his bumpers; rediscovered the winning groove over hurdles when making all to score at Chepstow (2m, heavy) in late January; arguably better performance in defeat next time at Ascot; one to keep the right side of.

Form: 11-2413

Stimulating Song³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 129

16/1

Farly experienced over hurdles now and scored readily at Wetherby in January; found things tougher under a penalty last time at Bangor and would probably need to improve markedly to get close here.

Form: 254612

Shang Tang⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 128| BF

20/1

Still looking for his first win but came very close last time at over 2m3f in heavy ground at Taunton; extra trip will suit him well and has chance if progressing once more.

Form: 633-262

War Lord⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 127

25/1

Won his maiden hurdle well enough at Plumpton in October and steady if unspectacular efforts before winning once again at Taunton last time out: open to improvement but will need to in order to play a leading role.

Form: 5-1341

First Lord De Cuet^t⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 126WS

22/1

Southwell winner on heavy ground in December before poor jumping let him down next time at Haydock; fair chance if hurdling better and has had wind surgery recently.

Form: 121-412

Blackfinch⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: S Edmunds| OR: 125

12/1

Three very competent performances over hurdles to date, finishing runner-up on all occasions; very difficult to rule out here if running to his very best and must be considered given his consistency and versatility.

Form: 2-222

Thegallantway²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125

33/1

Has been very consistent in defeat since winning for the only time at Exeter in October; should run his usual decent race and looks to be a leading contender.

Form: 8-13442

Olly The Brave^t1⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 125

25/1

Won over 2m at Hereford in November and arguably ran much better races in defeat since; would not have to improve too much to have an excellent chance of visiting the winner's enclosure once again; tongue-tie on for first time.

Form: 2-13138

Adicci²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124| BF

16/1

Would have made it two wins out of three over hurdles if he had not fallen last time out at Sedgefield; probably needs to improve a little bit to play prominent role but not without a chance.

Form: 23212F

Republican⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: D A Jacob| T: O Sherwood| OR: 124

40/1

Game win at Taunton on his penultimate start was his best effort to date but looks up against it here unless showing vast amounts of improvement.

Form: 4-58312

Buzz De Turcoing^h,t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 123

25/1

Point winner made no impression at Cheltenham last April but fared a little better at Newbury in December despite only finishing fifth of the 17 runners; slight chance based on latest run at Doncaster but others preferred.

Form: 16-52

Forecasts

McFabulous (5/2), Keen On (9/1), Falco Blitz (10/1), Hurricane Harvey (11/1), Eden Du Houx (11/1), Sevarano (12/1), Blackfinch (12/1), Hometown Boy (14/1), Adicci (16/1), Stimulating Song (16/1), Shang Tang (20/1), First Lord De Cuet (22/1), War Lord (25/1), Olly The Brave (25/1), Igor (25/1), Buzz De Turcoing (25/1), Thegallantway (33/1), Republican (40/1)

Nicky Henderson has a very strong hand here and much may depend on which horse receives the strongest market support. A slight preference is given to KEEN ON who drops back in class after failing to get involved last time in decent race at Warwick. He ran as well as could be expected that day and he may be capable of getting back to winning ways here. Falco Blitz won well on heavy ground last time at Ascot though arguably he has better form on faster ground. He should give the selection most to do. It would be easy to ignore Igor based on his below par effort last time. However, this step up in trip should help and he could go well.