15:05 Kempton

Monday 26 December 2022

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Ladbrokes Get Your 1 Free Bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 10.63s

Galore Desassences^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: N J Hawke| OR: 142

22/1

Progressive over hurdles since cheekpieces have been applied, producing a useful performance to readily win a 19.5f Doncaster handicap hurdle last month. However, he'll need a smart effort to defy top weight in this hot race on chase debut (unseated in sole point).

Form: 3113-P1

Solo^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141| C| D

9/2

Course hurdle winner. Got off the mark over fences when making all in 5-runner handicap chase at Sandown on his reappearance in November. Ran to a similar level when second of 4 at Ascot 12 days later. Thereabouts.

Form: 2367-12

West Cork^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 140

7/2

Very useful 2m winner over hurdles. Has come up against some smart opposition in 2 novice chases at Warwick since switched to fences and he could take a step forward now handicapping for the first time in this sphere.

Form: 542-F23

Balco Coastal³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133| BF

7/2

Useful 2-time novice hurdle winner last term. Judged on his strength in the betting he was expected to make a winning start over fences at Newbury last month but his jumping lacked fluency. His fencing could improve with that experience behind him and he retains plenty of potential as a chaser.

Form: 112P3-5

Panic Attack^b,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 130| D

17/2

All the better for a recent outing when making all in 3-runner novice chase at Huntingdon (2½m, good to soft) on debut over fences 37 days ago. This is much tougher but she merits respect nonetheless.

Form: 431-271

Hudson De Grugy³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 129

14/1

Useful 4-time hurdle winner for this yard. A little below that level in 2 chase outings last month (20 lengths second of 3 latterly) but given a bit of a chance by the handicapper and there's still time for him to click over fences.

Form: 1616-42

Lord Baddesley³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Burke| T: C Gordon| OR: 127| D

18/1

Built on his encouraging reappearance second in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow when going one better in handicap hurdle here. Disappointed at Newbury since, however, and well held in 2 previous attempts over fences.

Form: 44F-214

Arizona Cardinal³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 124| BF| D

9/1

Made a successful debut over fences after a breathing operation/7 months off in 2½m handicap at Bangor in October. Only a respectable fourth of 8 over 22.5f at Uttoxeter since.

Form: 4161-14

Art Approval^p1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 123| D

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler who has matched that form over fences, albeit completely no match for very easy winner (only other rival to finish) at Cheltenham last time. Has the cheekpieces he wore on the Flat in France fitted for the first time in Britain.

Form: 30-8332

Don Alvaro^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122| D

13/2

Has left his hurdle form well behind switched to fences, winning a pair of 2½m Wincanton handicaps under Angus Cheleda. In control a good way out last time so a further 8 lb rise doesn't look too severe with more improvement on the cards.

Form: 310-411

Forecasts

Balco Coastal (7/2), West Cork (7/2), Solo (9/2), Don Alvaro (13/2), Panic Attack (17/2), Arizona Cardinal (9/1), Hudson De Grugy (14/1), Lord Baddesley (18/1), Galore Desassences (22/1), Art Approval (33/1)

This is a step up in class for DON ALVARO but he jumps well enough to think he can cope and is taken to defy the handicapper again and complete a hat-trick. West Cork acquitted himself well from higher marks than this over hurdles and rates an obvious threat. Balco Coastal didn't jump well enough on his chase debut at Newbury but there was plenty of strength behind him in the market on that occasion and he could easily prove a different proposition with that experience under his belt.