April 22 / 16.55 Kempton

16.55

Good

Sri Lanka, The Wonder Of Asia Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
RTV
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Sri Lanka, The Wonder Of Asia Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 7-0853 BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Unable to justify favouritism when third on last month's handicap debut at Hereford (2m, soft; first-time cheekpieces) but significant positives can still be drawn from that run, and his placed form in bumpers offers significant hope he'll be seen to better effect on today's faster ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

7th Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:30 Uttoxeter

Cawthorne Banker

11st 1lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Proven winner who had lost his way but got back on track with a near miss at Worcester (2m, good) 20 days ago; just 2lb higher but the new blinkers (replacing cheekpieces) cast some doubts.

4/1

2nd

7

17th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:47 Worcester

Cawthorne Banker

10st 12lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won handicaps at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) and Uttoxeter (2m, good) last autumn but he's been back in the doldrums since; now 3lb lower than for his last success but he needs a major revival.

10/1

5th

7

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Worcester

Cawthorne Banker

10st 4lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won twice in the space of three starts last year but has soon returned to the doldrums; can't be supported with any confidence.

25/1

Form: 99/P99

Last run: 64 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Struggled when a big-priced outsider for three maiden/novice hurdles at start of this year; gets to race on a sound surface for this first time here but needs to take a big step forward on this handicap debut; 2lb wrong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

17:48 Worcester

Haafback

10st 2lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Emma-Jane Bishop

Inconsistent but has frame possibilities provided latest effort (ran creditably) is backed up; one of only two runners who already have winning form over fences.

10/1

7th

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

17:48 Worcester

Haafback

10st 2lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Emma-Jane Bishop

Inconsistent but has frame possibilities provided latest effort (ran creditably) is backed up; one of only two runners who already have winning form over fences.

10/1

4th

6

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

17:40 Warwick

Haafback

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Emma-Jane Bishop

took keen hold, led, soon clear, went further clear before 3rd, much reduced lead before 8th, headed 2 out, weakened run-in

33/1

Form: 055

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on stable/hurdle debut in December but his two fifths on soft ground this year were much more encouraging and his Irish Flat form offers significant hope he can improve again in good-ground handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

5th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:48 Ffos Las

Albert Park

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

No better for cheekpieces or this headgear combination in his last three races and he's now 0-15; unconvincing.

20/1

4th

8

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

15:08 Newton Abbot

Albert Park

10st 11lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Is 0-14 and he underwent a breathing operation before coming in only tenth of 12 in 2m4f Wincanton handicap 22 days ago; visor is reached for now.

14/1

10th

9

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

17:32 Wincanton

Albert Park

10st 9lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nigel Hawke

0-11 over hurdles and absent since pulled up in first-time cheekpieces at Newton Abbot (2m2f, good) last summer; needs subsequent wind op to have made a big difference.

20/1

Form: -P0202

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
0-12 over hurdles and not one to rely upon heavily but ran well from the front when second to well-handicapped rival at Taunton (2m, soft) 11 days ago and will take some catching if in similar form again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

13:52 Wincanton

Freddie Fleetfoot

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Carroll Gray

Gave good account when close fourth over C&D (good; also suited by soft) in November but was below that form at Taunton last month and is now 0-16 over hurdles; 1lb wrong; others preferred.

16/1

11

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

13:15 Stratford

Freddie Fleetfoot

10st 2lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: Carroll Gray

Made the frame twice (2m, soft/good) in spring 2024; now returns from a lengthy absence but he'll have possibilities if ready to roll.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4P0

Last run: 103 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Made quite promising hurdle debut for the Pogson stable in the autumn but two heavy defeats followed, and he also struggled in a small-field Flat novice on recent debut for James Owen; remains unexposed but it's hard to know what to expect from him here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

7th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 5

15:45 Fakenham

Ronaldoreturns

11st 10lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: James Owen

not fluent 1st, prominent

14/1

5th

3

7th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 5

15:45 Fakenham

Ronaldoreturns

11st 10lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: James Owen

not fluent 1st, prominent

14/1

5th

1

22nd Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:55 Kempton

Ronaldoreturns

12st 0lb

J: Mr Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

took keen hold, held up in rear, brief headway after 3 out, weakened before 2 out

5/1

Form: 3FP11P D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Struck form and won consecutive Plumpton handicaps on soft ground in February/March but ran poorly on good ground there three weeks ago and might be vulnerable to less exposed rivals here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

19th Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

16:15 Newton Abbot

Mi Sueno

10st 4lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Nick Scholfield

Hard to win with but he's on a competitive mark if new trainer Nick Scholfield can get him back on track; market helpful.

11/2

5th

9

17th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:47 Worcester

Mi Sueno

10st 3lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: David Brace

His last win was over two years ago but he's well treated on old form and was only beaten 3l at Stratford (2m, good to firm) last month; has each-way claims if he can back that up and he won't mind what the weather does.

11/2

4th

6

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:35 Stratford

Mi Sueno

10st 5lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: David Brace

Returned to form with creditable second at Taunton (2m, good) last month, his third start for David Brace, but was pulled up on recent chasing debut and has become hard to predict.

11/2

Form: 565/4-

Last run: 544 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Safely held when fourth on handicap hurdle debut at Fakenham (2m, good) in October 2022 and not seen over jumps again since; just a respectable sixth on latest Flat start in January; others have more obvious claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(2)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

19:30 Epsom

Pride Of Nepal

10st 1lb

J: Miss Sarah Bowen

T: Tony Carroll

8yo who went 21 months without a win but has now scored at Windsor, Lingfield, Chepstow and Ripon in his four races this turf season; his second in this race last year was a remote one and the 6lb rise since his latest start asks a question, but conditions fine and he's on a major roll, ridden by Sarah Bowen on last two starts (two in four days); major player.

3/1

1st

1

(4)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 6

13:40 Ripon

Pride Of Nepal

10st 13lb

J: Miss Sarah Bowen

T: Tony Carroll

Completed the hat-trick at Chepstow (1m2f, good to soft) on Monday; carries a 4lb penalty for that and stays 1m4f fine, so likely to have a major role to play again under Sarah Bowen, if electing to stand his ground.

5/2

1st

1

(10)

15th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

13:50 Chepstow

Pride Of Nepal

11st 2lb

J: Miss Sarah Bowen

T: Tony Carroll

Frequent slow starter who's enjoyed a revival since returned to turf, minus the tongue-tie and headgear; looked to have a bit more in hand than the final margin at Lingfield (1m2f, good to firm) off 3lb lower last time and holds obvious claims.

7/4

Form: /3-767

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
French bumper winner in 2021; returned from long absence with three low-key runs in maiden hurdles at start of this year but makes handicap debut in a low-grade event and might get more competitive this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

30th Aug 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

15:50 Fontwell

Inigo

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Fell in his first two handicaps but got off the mark with clearcut success in first-time blinkers at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) last month; might not be ideally suited by the forecast faster ground here but may still have potential; tongue-tie fitted for first time.

11/4

1st

2

17th Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:10 Uttoxeter

Inigo

11st 7lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

took keen hold

9/2

Form: 54PPP-

Last run: 389 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Became very disappointing under rules for Ben Pauling last season (pulled up over fences in first two handicaps) and has failed to complete the last two of his three points for Phil York.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

8th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Phil The Sock

10st 3lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Phil York

always behind

66/1

9

8th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Phil The Sock

10st 3lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Phil York

always behind

66/1

7

22nd Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:55 Kempton

Phil The Sock

10st 13lb

J: Mr Phillip York

T: Phil York

held up in rear, mistake and detached 4th, struggling when pulled up after 3 out

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £161.57
Tricast £860.92

Selections

POSTDATA:

Albert Park

SPOTLIGHT:

Cawthorne Banker

Daily Mail:

Mi Sueno

RP RATINGS:

Ronaldoreturns

Daily Record:

Freddie Fleetfoot

D Express:

Pride Of Nepal

WEST COUNTRY:

Cawthorne Banker

The Sun:

Cawthorne Banker

The Star:

Mi Sueno

The Times:

Albert Park

Telegraph:

Albert Park

The Guardian:

Albert Park

Daily Mirror:

Albert Park