13:15 Kempton

Monday 13 November 2023

All12:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

racingtv.com Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 5m 15.97s

Earth King²²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120

20/1

Went the right way at pace over hurdles last season, readily opening his account in novice at Exeter (18.5f) in February before finishing runner-up on handicap bow at Taunton (19f, heavy) when last seen in March. Lots to like on return/chase debut.

Form: 50/6512-

Richhill^t¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| D

11/2

Irish point winner who finished third on hurdling debut. After 3 months off (had wind op), built on that effort when making all in maiden at Southwell in January and ran well on both subsequent starts in novice events. Fences should get more out of him this season so needs considering.

Form: 5/13124-

King's Threshold⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 117

4/1

Fairly useful hurdler who shaped as if he'd returned in form when fourth in a handicap at Bangor (23f, soft) just under 6 weeks ago. Should take to chasing, so certainly not dismissed.

Form: 8/341-44

Touchy Feely¹⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 117| D

9/1

Won first 2 hurdles. Not up to Grade 2 company at Sandown in February and disappointed following a breathing operation and a 12-week break at Ffos Las (21.9f, soft) back in May. In top hands so would be folly to ignore sent chasing.

Form: 3/2115-4

Egbert²⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 116| BF| DWS

8/1

Strong at the finish when landing a maiden hurdle at Ludlow over 21.3f in January. Low-key handicap debut at Sandown and failed to meet expectations upped in trip when well held at former course (23.8f, good to soft) 6 months ago. Now heads over the larger obstacles after a wind op.

Form: 234164-

Invincible Nao^h¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 112

17/2

French juvenile hurdle winner last spring who produced his best effort yet on these shores when third in a Fontwell handicap (21.8f, good) in February. Creditable efforts both starts since and has the physique for chasing, so worthy of respect after 6 months off.

Form: 83033-4

Stringtoyourbow¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 112

14/1

Left his qualifying runs well behind when close second on 20.5f Newbury handicap debut in March 2022. Went one better with plenty in hand upped to 24.3f at Ayr the following month and showed some promise after 19 months off at Cheltenham (19.9f, good to soft) recently. Makes chase debut.

Form: 76921/0

Stroll On By²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 109

9/2

Made the frame on 4 of his 6 starts over hurdles last season and plenty to like about his chasing debut at Warwick in September. Duly built on that with an emphatic success at Exeter (17.5f, soft) just under 3 weeks ago and likely to have even more to offer. Looks sure to go well.

Form: 0425-41

Boom Boom^b1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 105| BF

18/1

Got off the mark in 2m maiden hurdle at Wincanton in April but he was pulled up on his handicap debut at Worcester following month. Returned from 5 months off with a haphazard display that culminated with a capitulation on chasing debut and blinkers are quickly reached for.

Form: 2/8F1-P3

Grey D'alco²³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 103

28/1

Winning pointer who has made the frame on a couple of occasions over hurdles but hasn't made any impact switched to handicap company and looks up against it on chasing debut after 7 months off.

Form: 3449P7-

Sherborne^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 100| D

6/1

Landed a double over hurdles in the spring and shaped like he had returned in form when fourth at Newton Abbot last month. Confirmed that promise with his first form over fences when runner-up to Stroll On By at Exeter (17.5f, soft) 20 days ago so warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 68-1142

Forecasts

King's Threshold (4/1), Stroll On By (9/2), Richhill (11/2), Sherborne (6/1), Egbert (8/1), Invincible Nao (17/2), Touchy Feely (9/1), Stringtoyourbow (14/1), Boom Boom (18/1), Earth King (20/1), Grey D'alco (28/1)

STROLL ON BY surpassed his hurdling exploits on just his second start in this sphere when scoring at Exeter recently and with even more to offer Charlie Longsdon's 6-y-o is fancied to follow up at the expense of Richhill, who ticks plenty of boxes making his chase/handicap debut for a top yard. Earth King, Touchy Feely and Invincible Nao are just a handful of others worthy of respect sent over the larger obstacles for the first time, too.