15:08 Kempton

Friday 27 December 2024

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0815:38

Ladbrokes Get Rewarded With Ladbucks Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:08 | Winning time: 6m 6.68s

Kitty's Light³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: R Patrick| T: Christian Williams| OR: 137| D

33/1

Scottish National hero in 2022/23 and an excellent fifth in Grand National last term. Well held all 3 runs so far this season, though, and it could be that his campaign is again being fine-tuned around another trip to Aintree during the spring.

Form: 759-69P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Jet Plane^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

20/1

Gained a fourth victory of 2023/24 in comfortable style at Market Rasen (19f) in April. Gave his all after 6 months off when third at Wetherby in October but was last of those still going when unseating his rider 3 out at Newcastle (23.4f, good) last month. Others more compelling.

Form: 511P-3U

Highstakesplayer²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lacey| OR: 135| CD

7/2

Likeable sort who notched his fourth success over fences at this C&D in April. Solid reappearance when second at Ascot but just like last season, he went backwards from that when well held at Newbury (22.4f, good to soft) subsequently. No surprise to see him get back on the up.

Form: 1/1P1-25

Slipway³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 134| CD

6/1

Strong stayer who dispelled a couple of low-key efforts when resuming winning ways over C&D in March. Just a creditable return/cross-country debut when fifth at Cheltenham last month and probably found the race coming too soon when well held at Ascot (29.4f, good to soft) 8 days later.

Form: 9010-55

Frero Banbou²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 134

11/4

Tumbled in the weights and ended a long losing run for a stable that's quickly resumed its habit of landing big handicap chases in Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle (23.4f, good) last month, jumping well over the longest trip he'd faced. Remains well handicapped after a 7 lb rise, so can go in again.

Form: P66P-61

Golden Son^p,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| C

9/1

Got off the mark over fences at this track in February and running well in blinkers when fell 2 out in handicap chase at Sandown (20f, good) in April. Had a wind op but added to a decidedly patchy record back from 7 months off at Newbury (19.8f, good to soft) recently so not one to trust.

Form: PP16F-9

Deise Aba^b⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 133| D

25/1

Useful but unpredictable chaser for Philip Hobbs. Successful in 4 of 6 starts in points since. Sold from Francesca Poste £10,000 in May and decent start for this yard when just failing at Wincanton in October. Showed up well for a long way at Cheltenham since, so not without each-way hope.

Form: P11-P26

Weveallbeencaught^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: James Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 130| D

16/1

Useful hurdler/chaser for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Fantastic start in novices at Worcester and Cheltenham (handicap) for new yard this autumn but found the effort of trying to go the gallop in a tougher environment from out of the weights all too much at latter track last time.

Form: 660-32P

Beachcomber^b1¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127

10/1

Dual 25f hurdles winner who stepped up on his chasing debut form when runner-up at Exeter last month. Had cheekpieces on but found his jumping failing to pass muster at Cheltenham (25.2f, good to soft) just under a fortnight ago. More severe headgear enlisted (first-time blinkers).

Form: P16-32P

Dreaming Blue^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 127

13/2

Capitalised on a reduced mark with plenty to spare at Fontwell in March and followed up back there 3 weeks later. Good third of 4 at Wincanton on return and back to winning ways reverted to front-running tactics at Ludlow (25.6f, soft) earlier this month. 3 lb higher and should be in the mix.

Form: 3311-31

Bass Rock^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Williams| T: G Nicholls| OR: 122

14/1

Useful chase/hurdles winner at his best but struggled for form over fences last season for Sandy Thomson and offered little on yard bow in 2m4f Cheltenham handicap hurdle in October. Showed the benefit of that comeback when third at Ludlow earlier in the month but likely to struggle in this.

Form: P68P-03

Forecasts

Frero Banbou (11/4), Highstakesplayer (7/2), Slipway (6/1), Dreaming Blue (13/2), Golden Son (9/1), Beachcomber (10/1), Bass Rock (14/1), Weveallbeencaught (16/1), Jet Plane (20/1), Deise Aba (25/1), Kitty's Light (33/1)

FRERO BANBOU added another big-race success to Venetia Williams' CV in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle last month and, remaining with handicapping scope even judged on last season's form, he's likely to prove a tough nut to crack. Dreaming Blue made it 3 wins from his last 4 starts at Ludlow recently, so he's put forward as the main danger, with Highstakesplayer and Weveallbeencaught taken to fight out minor honours.