Monday September 8th
PERTH – Good
2.20 2m 4f 110yds Scottish Food and Drink Day Novices’ hurdle (Class 4)
On a day of small fields this wasn’t a bad little contest.
Ryan Mania reported ‘lovely ground’.
BAILEYS CONCERTO progressed nicely over fences in the spring
for Dianne Sayer. Looking plenty well enough after three months off he came to
join issue approaching the last and went nicely clear. He is fine fettle and
gives his trainer options over both types of obstacle.
BADGED is a nice sort who should make up into a chaser. He
set a decent pace and kept on once headed before the last. He’s consistent,
probably suited by pace-making at a sharp track and didn’t do much wrong here.
MO ROUGE recorded a first win for Inverurie based Jackie Stephen
back in July. He wasn’t totally disgraced here and can remain competitive in
this company or in handicaps. (His
trainer recorded a second win the following day with Amilliontimes and
certainly has her small string buzzing.)
Downpatrick winner BIG KERN, a bit too keen going to start,
closed approaching the seventh but was held from two out. His win was on heavy
ground which may help him more.
CALTON ENTRY looks a chasing type who will need time to
develop. He went well enough until found out from the home turn.
2.50 2m 4f 110yds TUV-SUD Consulting Handicap Chase (79-100)
SOLWAY DORNAL put in a superb round of jumping and it made
all the difference. He held enough in hand and stayed on well from the last.
FORGET AND FORGIVE, confused by one group of racegoers with
the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner of 1985 Forgive N’ Forget(!), was well backed
and given every chance. He was slow at a couple of fences when the pace
increased and that may well have cost him.
SHINE A DIAMOND, not over enamoured with the tongue tie in
the preliminaries, ran a sound enough race if held from the last. Connections
were satisfied enough with this effort.
MOONLONE LANE was too keen and faded from three out.
ENDEAVOR is a moody character and this wasn’t a going day.
However, should he start to take an interest he would be worth keeping an eye
on as he’s more than capable of seeing off these if he so wishes.
3.20 2m 4f 110yds TUV-SUD Consulting Handicap Hurdle
(88-105)
A very ordinary contest won by a twelve-year-old and I
wouldn’t imagine there will be too much to take forward.
OXALIDO recorded a first winner for Alnwick-based Hugh
Burns. He made headway to two out, challenged at the last and asserted between
runners to the line. He’s put in two good efforts for this yard.
SOLWAY DANDY put in a sound effort for the in-form Liza
Harrison yard. He led before the last but was pegged back on the run to the
line.
FLASH CRASH, with Rhys flint putting in a delayed
reappearance…, doesn’t look a straight forward sort. He held every chance but
didn’t look totally convincing when asked for an effort.
STROBE had conditions to suit, but he’s probably better
chasing these days as he tends to get a bit big at his hurdles.
3.50 2m Sodexo Prestige Handicap Chase (103-120)
A disappointing turn out for the biggest prize of the day.
CLARAGH NATIVE has ability but it’s been difficult to coax
out of him. He came with an effort from three out to challenge the in-form runner-up
at the last. He won at Musselburgh last November and is probably best on decent
ground around these sharp right-handers.
ROBIN’S COMMAND had every chance off a 3lb higher mark than
his course and distance win. He rallied well once headed and remains in form.
He can probably win again before long.
TOLEDO GOLD set the pace but was found out down the
straight.
SERGEANT PINK can be difficult to predict. He has been
running quite well on the flat, but never got into this contest.
4.20 2m 110yds TUV-SUD Consulting Juvenile Hurdle (Class 4)
JAZZY LADY had placed form going into this, but she’s a
small filly and there were stronger animals in this. She was under pressure from
three out and faded into last. Others are improving past her.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS didn’t show a huge amount on the flat, but
is in the right hands with Gordon Elliot. Looking plenty ready enough on hurdling
debut, he made headway before two out and was driven out on the flat.
DRY YOUR EYES was the bigger of the two fillies and has much
more scope than the favourite. She jumped neatly near the pace on stuck to her
job from two out. She should improve with experience and age.
UPLIFTED chased the leader and kept on under pressure into
third. A so-so debut.
THE WALLACE LINE was outpaced before the last. His jockey
commented that he was a bit hesitant at his hurdles and will improve with
experience.
4.50 Stewart Milne Novices’ Handicap Chase (96-113)
ULTRA LIGHT looked nicely fit. She closed to the fourteenth
and was left clear when her main challenger took a heavy fall at the last. Difficult
to tell what she achieved, but she is consistent.
GLEANN NA NDOCHAIS made mistakes, as is his way and didn’t
really threaten, though keeping on in the latter stages.
ATTYCRAN ran well and was challenging when taking a heavy
fall at the last. I haven’t found out if he was OK but things didn’t look good.
THE ICE FACTOR led until tipping up four out.
DOTTIES DILEMA raced behind the leaders until thumping the
eighth, causing Peter Buchanan to come out the side door.
5.20 3m 110yds TUV-SUD Consulting Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
(69-98)
A very ordinary contest.
RECKLESS ROMEO has a moderate record but performed well off
a break, taking it up at the last and holding off the pacesetters renewed
challenge.
RAIFTEIRI isn’t anything special but did record William
Young Junior’s first winner recently. He set the pace and responded well once
headed. He might pick up another event at this lowly level.
SOLWAY LEGEND had every chance at the second last but was
held.
NORTHERN EXECUTIVE was driven to challenge at the last, but
didn’t look at all keen and subsided on the run-in.
Plenty of talk at this this meeting about the Scottish
Referendum. The polls suggest a small lead for NO, but there’s not much in it,
and there’s much concern that there is no plan in place for horse racing in an
independent Scotland. Concerns surround the matter of a Scottish levy and that
the sport may well suffer north of the border. If there is a Yes vote than the sport
needs to get into Can Do mode rather than Can’t Do. Surely there are more than
enough sharp brains in the sport to put together a workable plan going forward
and you have to make the best of the cards you are dealt.
Kelso’s autumn campaign begins with a twilight meeting on Wednesday
September 17th. Lack of rain means that with watering concentrated on
the hurdles course the steeplechases are cancelled. A re-jigged card starts at
4.35 with five hurdles and a bumper.
