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14:30 Kempton

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:5013:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 55.25s

1^st

Epatante

511-0

2/1j

T: N J HendersonJ: B J Geraghty

Held up in mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders approaching 3 out, challenged on bit 2 out, led between last 2, quickened clear from last, impressive op 5/2 tchd 15/8

2^nd

Silver Streak

611-7

11/1

T: Evan WilliamsJ: Adam Wedge

Held up in mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders when hit 3 out, went 2nd before next where dropped to 3rd, 2nd again before the last, no chance with winner op 10/1

3^rd

3 ¼

Ballyandy

811-7

14/1

T: N A Twiston-DaviesJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Led, went left 2nd, soon headed, chased leader, went left next, led on long run before 2 out, joined 2 out, headed between last 2, lost 2nd before the last, plugged on in 3rd

4^th

Verdana Blue

711-0

7/1

T: N J HendersonJ: J McGrath

Held up in last pair, headway on outside tracking leaders before 2 out, 4th and one pace from 2 out tchd 8/1

5^th

Ch'tibello

811-7

10/1

T: D SkeltonJ: Harry Skelton

Held up in last pair, pushed along in modest 5th before 2 out, mistake 2 out, never on terms op 17/2

6^th

Quick Grabim

711-7

50/1

T: F O'BrienJ: P J Brennan

Raced keenly, chased leaders on inside, weakened on long run before 2 out op 40/1 tchd 33/1

7^th

Elixir De Nutz

511-7

14/1

T: C L TizzardJ: R M Power

Chased leader, led after 2nd, headed on long run before 2 out, lost 2nd and weakened before 2 out op 12/1

Also Ran

Big Blue

711-7

40/1

T: C & D EustaceJ: J J Burke

Held up and always towards rear, weakened and behind 3 out, never involved, soon pulled up

Fusil Raffles

411-7

2/1j

T: N J HendersonJ: N de Boinville

Raced keenly, chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, behind and pulled up before 2 out op 5/2 tchd 11/4

Getaway Trump

611-7

16/1

T: P F NichollsJ: H Cobden

Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4th, weakened after 3 out, behind and pulled up before 2 out op 14/1

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£2.50Pl:£1.20, £2.80, £3.10EX:£24.50Trifecta:£223.00Tricast:£254.75SF:£28.26Swingers:£10.60, £6.90, £22.70

Forecasts

Epatante (2/1), Fusil Raffles (2/1), Verdana Blue (7/1), Ch'tibello (10/1), Silver Streak (11/1), Ballyandy (14/1), Elixir De Nutz (14/1), Getaway Trump (16/1), Big Blue (40/1), Quick Grabim (50/1)

Nicky Henderson has saddled the Christmas Hurdle winner on eight occasions, with Verdana Blue his most recent winner. Soft ground is a concern for last year's gritty victor, while stablemate Fusil Raffles was only workmanlike in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. Therefore, the progressive mare Epatante may prove strongest of the Henderson trio. Cheltenham's International Hurdle holds relevant clues with Ballyandy (second), Ch'tibello (third) and ELIXIR DE NUTZ (seventh) all recommencing battle. The speculative selection missed a tilt at the Supreme Novices' (lame) and unsurprisingly needed the run on seasonal reappearance. He deserves another chance.