15:40 Kempton

Wednesday 27 December 2023

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0915:40

Ladbrokes Fanzone Mares' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 6m 27.5s

Glimpse Of Gala^p⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: B Roberts⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 136| CD

17/2

Likeable mare who took this prize 12 months ago. Posted an encouraging chase debut over shorter trip at Worcester in October and in the picture now back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 21106-2

Midnightreflection^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Charlie Case⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 125| D

11/1

Registered a fifth career success with battling victory in handicap hurdle at Ascot (23.5f, good) 32 days ago. In the mix once more despite taking a 3 lb rise.

Form: 385-U21

Martha Brae³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123

17/2

Consistent in handicaps last season, including a win at Hereford (25f) in March, and posted a solid third of 5 to Coquelicot in listed mares event over C&D 30 days ago. Considered.

Form: 2212-63

Della Casa Lunga^p1,t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 120

7/1

A fairly useful 2m winning hurdler for Sam Curling in Ireland last term who got back on track upped in trip when second of 5 in handicap here (24.5f, soft) 30 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Possibilities.

Form: 132-P32

Emmpressive Lady³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 117| CD

12/1

Four-time hurdle winner, including in this in 2021, but she arrives out of sorts, returned to hurdling when beating only one at Ffos Las last month. Needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 5P1PP-5

Lassue³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115| BF

7/2

Point winner who is progressing well in this sphere, scoring at Ludlow and Chepstow before posting an excellent ¾-length third of 7 to Midnightreflection in handicap hurdle at Ascot (23.5f, good) 32 days ago. Merits consideration once more.

Form: 1421/13

Holly Hartingo³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 115

22/1

Dual hurdles scorer in 2021/22 but lightly raced since. Failed to fire in two runs over fences at Huntingdon this winter and back in this sphere with something to prove.

Form: 137/3-P3

Fortunefavorsdbold¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: R T Dunne| T: Christian Williams| OR: 111

40/1

A fair winning hurdler in Ireland for Paul Nolan but she's offered for her current yard, last of 5 in handicap hurdle at Sandown (19.8f, heavy) 18 days ago. Back up in trip with something to find.

Form: 310-F95

Jersey Lady³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Victoria Malzard⁽⁵⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 110| D

17/2

Has developed a good partnership with her jockey, completing a hat-trick at Fontwell (25.7f) in June. On her second outing for her current trainer, gave her running again when fifth at Market Rasen (23.1f) last time and she should be thereabouts once more.

Form: 31-1145

Gaye Legacy¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 108

11/2

Lightly-raced hurdler who has taken a step forward in handicaps this season, scoring at Market Rasen before very good second of 7 at Aintree (24.7f, heavy) 18 days ago. Another bold showing is on the cards despite being 2 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 423-312

Fortuna Ligna^p1,t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 107| BF

5/1

Fair form in bumpers and similar form over hurdles, justifying cramped odds when landing a mares' maiden at Chepstow (19.5f) in April. Made a respectable reappearance there and ridden too aggressively at Ascot since. Can't be ruled out.

Form: 4241-25

Forecasts

Lassue (7/2), Fortuna Ligna (5/1), Gaye Legacy (11/2), Della Casa Lunga (7/1), Martha Brae (17/2), Jersey Lady (17/2), Glimpse Of Gala (17/2), Midnightreflection (11/1), Emmpressive Lady (12/1), Holly Hartingo (22/1), Fortunefavorsdbold (40/1)

GAYE LEGACY arrives on the up and is taken to quickly resume winning ways despite being 2 lb "wrong" in the weights given she still has few miles on the clock. Lassue is another mare going the right way so she rates the chief danger, although last year's winner Glimpse of Gala seems sure to have a say too along with the reliable Martha Brae.