12:45 Kempton

Friday 26 December 2025

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

'Get Your Ladbrokes Free Kempton Bet' Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 4m 59.21s

U Cant Be Serious²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: J Tizzard| OR: 130

11/2

Fairly useful winning hurdler who has upped his game again to win a pair of 19f Exeter handicap chases this winter. The type to go on improving.

Form: 7133-11

Queensbury Boy^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: M Bowen| OR: 129| D

7/1

Bumper/dual hurdle winner for Harry Derham who was a respectable fifth of 6 on last month's Cheltenham chase/handicap debut for new trainer Mickey Bowen, already held when hampered last. May do better.

Form: 2/115-45

Krak²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 127

22/1

Handicap hurdle winner at Cork in April on his final start for Stuart Crawford. Well held in Persian War at Chepstow on stable debut but ran better when third in 2m Sandown handicap on chase debut since. Should be better for that experience now stepping up in trip.

Form: 3331-63

Noble Park²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 125| D

7/4

Failed to win over hurdles but different proposition over fences, making it 2-2 when easily seeing off 5 rivals at Lingfield (2½m, good) 29 days ago. Even an 11 lb rise could prove lenient with further improvement likely.

Form: U220-11

Jasmine Bliss^t²⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 125| D

22/1

Irish point winner who landed maiden/novice hurdle wins around 21f last season. Travelled well but faded into ninth in EBF Mares' Final at Newbury on handicap debut when last seen in March. Switches to fences for her reappearance.

Form: 1/24119-

Secret Des Dieux²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: James Owen| OR: 122| D

10/1

Dual hurdle winner who struck at the first time of asking over fences in 4-runner Fakenham novice handicap (2m, good to soft) in October. Bettered that form when third of 7 at Newbury (2m again) since. This return to a longer trip may unlock more improvement.

Form: 1354-13

Barlovento³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 121| D

4/1

Bumper/hurdle winner who made a good start to his chase career when ½-length second of 9 to reopposing U Cant Be Serious (who has won there again since) on reappearance in November. Open to improvement and 7 lb better off with Joe Tizzard's charge this afternoon.

Form: 31/122-2

Epic West³³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 118

17/2

Irish point recruit who won 2 of his 3 starts in novice hurdles last winter. Pitched into a competitive race for his chase/handicap debut after 11 months off but his stable is enjoying an excellent season and it'll be very interesting to see what the betting makes of him.

Form: 21/112-

Tapley^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 117| BF| C| D

22/1

Opened account in this sphere when readily taking 8-runner handicap at Wincanton (2½m, good) last month. Creditable fourth of 7 at Doncaster since but it underlines he needs more from his new mark.

Form: 5-63214

Lumi Plugin²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 113| D

33/1

Progressive in handicap hurdles last winter, including a 20.5f Plumpton win, but let down by his jumping when seventh of 8 on Chepstow chase debut/reappearance 20 days ago.

Form: 02312-7

Forecasts

Noble Park (7/4), Barlovento (4/1), U Cant Be Serious (11/2), Queensbury Boy (7/1), Epic West (17/2), Secret Des Dieux (10/1), Tapley (22/1), Jasmine Bliss (22/1), Krak (22/1), Lumi Plugin (33/1)

NOBLE PARK was really impressive at Lingfield last time and is taken to defy the handicapper again and stretch his unbeaten chase record to 3. U Cant Be Serious is another who arrives with a 2-2 record over fences and is feared most ahead of Barlovento. Jamie Snowden chase newcomer Epic West is another fascinating contender in what looks yet another well-contested renewal of this novice handicap.