14:55 Kempton

Sunday 22 October 2023

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

TrustATrader trustatrader.com Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:58 | Winning time: 5m 6.55s

Songo^h⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: M F Harris| OR: 120| BF

10/1

Fairly useful Flat performer who won a pair of 21.5f Newton Abbot novice hurdles this summer. Disappointed in a handicap there last time, though, and shouldered with a double penalty here.

Form: 9U4/117

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Destroytheevidence^p1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 122

9/4

Fair in bumpers and showed improved form to get off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles in 5-runner novice at Worcester (23f, good to soft) in May. Respectable second at Southwell (3m) on recent return to action. Cheekpieces are reached for now. Thereabouts.

Form: 53-312

Beachcomber²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

9/4

Looked useful when winning easily at Chepstow on his second of 3 bumper starts last season. Off 7 months, shaped as if better for the run when 10 lengths fifth on his 2½m Worcester hurdle debut 23 days ago. Major player here with improvement on the cards.

Form: 410-5

Deerstalker¹⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling

14/1

Clear when falling at the last in his sole point. Faded after racing keenly in a Warwick bumper in the spring for Mel Rowley but worth keeping an eye on in the betting now hurdling for a new stable no stranger to success in this race.

Form: F0-

Monks Meadow¹⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle

9/2

£60,000 buy after finishing runner-up on his completed start in Irish points. Interesting contender for a stable which sent out a winning hurdling debutant at Wincanton earlier in the week.

Form: F-22

Much Too Dear¹⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: L Horsfall| OR: 109

9/2

Fair form over hurdles, running his best race when 3 lengths second of 3 over C&D (good to soft) when last seen in May. Likely to be competitive if resuming in similar form.

Form: 27536-2

Capstan^h²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L Richards

80/1

Fair at best on the Flat these days (fourth in 2m Class 6 handicap here last month) and pulled up on his Newbury hurdle debut back in March. Can only watch.

Form: P-

Tiger Blade¹⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: H Brown

250/1

Modest form when sixth in a pair of Warwick bumpers for Tom Weston in the spring. Best watched now hurdling on return.

Form: 6-6

Non-Runners

Presenting Nelly³⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Destroytheevidence (9/4), Beachcomber (9/4), Monks Meadow (9/2), Much Too Dear (9/2), Presenting Nelly (6/1), Songo (10/1), Deerstalker (14/1), Capstan (80/1), Tiger Blade (250/1)

BEACHCOMBER should be all the sharper with last month's hurdle debut under his belt and can make the most of the weight he receives from the previous winners in this line-up. It would be no surprise were the main threat to come from Emma Lavelle Irish point recruit Monks Meadow, particularly if the betting vibes are strong.