Stanpoker Handicap Hurdle Tips

Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson always enjoys this time of year from a form perspective and the Kempton Boxing Day meeting is historically one at which he does particularly well. He does not have many runners at the Sunbury venue this afternoon, but what's lacking in quantity will be made up for with quality.The last race on the card, the stanspoker.co.uk Handicap Hurdle, is one he tends to target and has proved successful in two of the last five runnings of this 2m 5f contest. Indeed, Afrad obliged for Henderson last year and Cupboard Lover did likewise in 2001.The Seven Barrows handler looks poised to enhance his record in this Class 3 race today with the lightly raced Maharbal, who is well worth backing at 3/1 with Blue Square, albeit his absence of 722 days may concern some. It is a lengthy layoff for the six-year-old to overcome, but I am confident that he will prove equal to the task.Henderson is adept at fine-tuning horses preparations and is more than capable of getting one ready on their first run back following injury. The stable is going great guns, fresh from a treble at the weekend, and Maharbal has the look of a potential blot on the handicap, racing off the same mark as when scoring last time out at Exeter in January 2005.This is the son of Assessor's first try over a trip in excess of 2m 3f, but connections are expecting it to suit him down to the ground, while underfoot conditions will be ideal, as he appeared to relish the juice in the ground when scoring in the aforementioned heat at Exeter. All in all, the selection has plenty going for him.L'oudon had Predator over six lengths behind in fourth when beaten half-a-length by Rosita Bay at Taunton earlier this month. Paul Nicholls' charge has to be respected with conditions to suit, but he looks vulnerable off what is a career-high mark, especially with a potentially well-treated rival like Maharbal in the line-up.It's hard to envisage Predator reversing the placings despite a pull at the weights so, despite the benefit of having AP McCoy in the saddle, he's one to swerve. A big threat could, however, be posed by Smart Mover, who has lost no caste in defeat the last twice. What puts me off of the seven-year-old, though, is the trip, as he may find the combination of 2m 5f on this stiff track an insufficient test of stamina.Magnesium is in with an each-way shout, a remark which also applies to the Suzy Smith-trained Golden Bay, who shaped encouragingly behind Karanja at Newbury last time out where she probably found the 3m trip a shade too far. Back over what looks to be her optimum trip, a bold bid looks on the cards.Verdict - 2pts Maharbal @ 3/1 (Blue Square)