14:40 Kempton

Friday 9 February 2024

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1516:50

Every Race Live On Racing TV Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 24.0s

Ernest Gray²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 117| D

15/2

Useful bumper winner who opened his hurdles account at Doncaster last spring. Stepped up on chase debut display when scoring at the second attempt in this sphere at Southwell (24.3f, soft) but this is more demanding up 5 lb.

Form: 41P3-71

James Jet¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 115| D

5/1

Winning pointer who was progressive over hurdles, making a winning handicap bow at Uttoxeter in November. Kicked on again when striking on chase debut at Ffos Las (21.5f, heavy) but followed that with a very low-key display at Chepstow.

Form: 143-11P

Godot³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Stan Sheppard| T: A Irvine| OR: 110| C

11/4

Dual hurdles winner last spring, including here, and showed the benefit ot his chase debut spin when narrowly outpointing the in-form Morfee (winner since) at Plumpton (19.8f, good to soft). 4 lb rise tolerable and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 1-17361

Shot Boii^t,v¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 110| D

5/1

:Healthy strike rate over hurdles (4-14) and made it third time lucky in this sphere with the visor refitted at Hereford (25.2f, soft) in January. Lost little caste in defeat when runner-up at Warwick since and another bold show could be on the way.

Form: P-64612

Heaven Smart^b1⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 104| BF

9/2

Ran at least as well as he had done over hurdles on his second start chasing when third of 15 at Lingfield (23.5f, good to soft) in November. However, he failed to build on that over the same C&D next time and now tried in blinkers.

Form: 44P-U35

Pedley Wood^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 101

4/1

Point scorer who has improved for a wind op/fitting of cheekpieces over fences, landing handicaps at Hereford/Taunton at up to 3¼m in recent months. Jumping has very much looked an asset and 3 lb rise for latest success doesn't look harsh.

Form: U237-11

Non-Runners

Scrum Diddly⁵⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: Harry Derham J: Non Runner

School Days Over²⁵

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: Jack Hogan

Pearly Island¹⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: L Wadham J: Thomas Bellamy

Midnight Centurion³⁵

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: Jamie Snowden J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Godot (11/4), Pedley Wood (4/1), Heaven Smart (9/2), Scrum Diddly (9/2), Shot Boii (5/1), James Jet (5/1), School Days Over (11/2), Pearly Island (13/2), Ernest Gray (15/2), Midnight Centurion (15/2)

Cases can be made for several of these, with SCRUM DIDDLY the one who appeals most. He is 2 lb below the mark off which he was a good second in a small-field Ascot handicap on his penultimate start and, with just three runs in this sphere under his belt, he could have more to offer. Pedley Wood made it 2-2 over fences at Taunton and he's a live contender, while Godot, Midnight Centurion and Shot Boii should all have parts to play, too.