15:35 Kempton

Monday 3 May 2021

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Gamble Responsibly With VBET Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 5m 5.63s

Mahler's Promise⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 122

11/1

Newbury maiden hurdle winner last term who would certainly have been involved in the finish had he not fallen at the last in a handicap at Fontwell in November. Well held both starts since, though.

Form: F8/7FP0-

Vancouver^p¹⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 118

25/1

Back to winning ways at Uttoxeter in August and followed that with a good third at Fontwell. Held back by mistakes when last seen at Sedgefield in November.

Form: 3/51386-

Wicked Willy^t³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 118| CD

18/1

Lightly raced in recent times but best effort for a while when second of 12 at Ludlow in March. Nudged up 3 lb but he's a player if in the same mood.

Form: 67/P322-

Trixster^t⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 117| D

14/1

Three-time hurdles winner who was a good third at Hexham last term. However, disappointing over hurdles this season, including tongue tied after a wind op on latest. Handicapper given him a chance.

Form: 743/636-

Mon Palois^p¹⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 117

28/1

Landed a handicap chase at Stratford in August but looked laboured completed starts over fences to end 2020, so needs a break to have freshened him up.

Form: 9/3194P-

Miss Farage²⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 116| BF

13/2

Bumper winner who made the ideal start to hurdling when easing clear to score with loads in hand at in a novice at Southwell in August. Took keen hold at Uttoxeter next time and retains potential.

Form: 3/112-

Top Man²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 115| D

5/1

Made winning return/chase debut at Fontwell in October. Has had jumping issues over both sets of obstacles since, though wasn't given a hard time at Plumpton latest.

Form: 1FF4U5-

Major Robinson³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 112

6/1

Fair bumper winner in Ireland who shaped encouragingly in a first-time hood on Newbury hurdling debut in December. Headgear removed and much more like it when second at Wetherby a month ago.

Form: 034782-

Faint Hope^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 110| CD

9/4

Won this in 2018 and easily best effort since when just touched at Warwick 22 days ago, pulling clear with an unexposed sort. Repeat gives him sound claims.

Form: 1P/59P2-

Montys Medoc^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 105

5/1

Limited impact early in his career but much improved when making second handicap start a winning one at Wincanton 2 weeks ago (19.8f). May have more to offer now he's up and running.

Form: 560891-

Non-Runners

Animal³²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: Miss S Smith J: Aidan Coleman

Khan²¹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: M F Harris J: Harry Reed

Forecasts

Faint Hope (9/4), Montys Medoc (5/1), Top Man (5/1), Major Robinson (6/1), Miss Farage (13/2), Mahler's Promise (11/1), Animal (12/1), Trixster (14/1), Wicked Willy (18/1), Vancouver (25/1), Mon Palois (28/1), Khan (33/1)

FAINT HOPE won this back in 2018 (off 3 lb higher) and, following an excellent second to an unexposed rival at Warwick 3 weeks ago, he looks primed for a very bold bid. Monty's Medoc may have more to offer now he's up and running, with Trixster one to consider at longer odds.