14:10 Kempton

Saturday 16 March 2024

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Read Nicky Henderson's Exclusive Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 9.55s

West Balboa⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 142| CD

12/1

Landed 2 valuable handicaps last season (Lanzarote over C&D first occasion) and completed a hat-trick in small-field Aintree conditions race on reappearance. Not so good in 2 outings since and Harry Skelton looks elsewhere.

Form: 211-108

Kateira¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| BF| D

15/2

Three-time novice hurdle winner last season and excellent second in 2½m Grade 1 novice at Aintree final start. Not at best when placed in a pair of mares' listed races on her return to action in November. Given a bit of time since. First start in a handicap.

Form: 1112-32

Hugos New Horse¹⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| DWS

33/1

Likeable type who won 5 times at up to 2½m in novice company last season. His 2 efforts this season have been a touch disappointing and his hopes are pinned on a wind operation since last seen 106 days ago sparking a revival.

Form: 1131-0P

Boombawn³⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| C

13/2

Largely progressive sort who did well to come from rear into a quickening pace when winning 7-runner handicap at Aintree (2½m, good) when last seen in May. This a rather belated return but he's only 3 lb higher and Harry Skelton seemingly prefers him to the stable's other runners.

Form: 12629-1

Harbour Lake⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 128| D

10/1

Won his first 4 completed starts over hurdles and held his own in top-end handicaps last season. Hasn't taken to fences this time round but his hurdle mark has come down at the same time. Major player if a return to the smaller obstacles sparks him back to life.

Form: 4P45-P5

Irish Hill^b²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 124| BF

11/2

On the up when completing a hat-trick last winter. His form has levelled off since but he's dipped to 4 lb below his last winning mark and his latest fifth in a warm race at Ascot was quite encouraging. Gets the vote.

Form: 0-47295

Welsh Charger⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: David Noonan| T: A Ralph| OR: 123

20/1

Took his strike-rate over hurdles to a healthy 4-7 when improving again to gain a second successive Market Rasen handicap success last month. 9 lb higher in a much stronger race now but further progress can't be discounted.

Form: 121-411

Titan Discovery³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Liam Harrison| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 121

9/2

Runner-up in 2 bumpers last spring and going the right way over hurdles, making it 2-3 in handicaps when pushed clear at Sandown (2½m, soft) last month. Raised another 6 lb but there's surely more to come. Considered.

Form: 2-42121

Alien Storm^t1⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 120

8/1

Won 2m Plumpton novice last term and has run with credit in handicaps this season, not helping his cause with some less-than-fluent jumping but looking suited by the longer trip when staying on for fourth over 19.5f at Doncaster last time. Tongue tied first time.

Form: 952-F64

Good Look Charm^b,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 117| D

6/1

Made a winning return to hurdles in 21f Wincanton handicap on reappearance and has shown even better form when reaching the frame on all 3 outings since, including the Lanzarote over C&D. Has to enter the reckoning.

Form: 2F-1344

Thunderclap¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: H Morrison| OR: 114| CD

14/1

Career best when winning 10-runner C&D handicap in February but well below that form when a remote sixth at Newbury a fortnight ago.

Form: 21-5516

Non-Runners

Classic Anthem⁴²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: J R Boyle J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Titan Discovery (9/2), Irish Hill (11/2), Good Look Charm (6/1), Boombawn (13/2), Kateira (15/2), Alien Storm (8/1), Harbour Lake (10/1), West Balboa (12/1), Thunderclap (14/1), Classic Anthem (14/1), Welsh Charger (20/1), Hugos New Horse (33/1)

IRISH HILL ran well in a similarly warm Ascot handicap on his latest start and might be the way to go but there are a host of dangers, headed by Robbie Llewellyn's progressive 6-y-o Titan Discovery. Harbour Lake, who is well treated on last season's hurdle exploits, Good Luck Charm and Boomtown, the mount of Harry Skelton from the stable trio, are also on the shortlist.