KELSO – Wednesday May 4th
Going – Good (Good To Soft in places)
A decent midweek card as Kelso move towards the summer
break, with just Ladies Day to come in late May. To my mind the course was
generally good all round with just a softer patch swinging to home. What would
have had some effect was a very strong wind blowing straight into the faces of
the runners once they turned for home, and I found the pre-racing slog up the
straight a tough one.
2.20 2m 7½f Tweedbank Office Dayout Selling Handicap Chase
(80-97)
Although he has won in soft ground it was a four runner
event and GENROUS CHIEF has been struggling of late in the mud. Back on faster
ground in basement company, he was up with the pace all way and outstayed his
main challenger from two out. There was no bid despite the enthusiasm of the
DBS auctioneer, but you would think Chris Grant will seek to keep him on the go
at this level over the summer.
DR BEAUJOLAIS is lightly raced and has presumably had his
problems, but is decent enough at this level on his day. Disputing with the
winner for most of the way, he looked to be getting the worst of the argument
when ploughing through the last, and error from which he didn’t recover but
just held second. He looks best on this ground and remains competitive off his
current mark of 97.
BENEFIT IN KIND kept on from two out having been outpaced
but was flattered by proximity to the second.
CLENAGH CASTLE threatened on the heels of the leaders after
three out but was then put in his place. He has few miles on the clock and
staying appears to be his game, albeit at a pace equating to a rating of 80.
BESCOT SPRINGS is better than this at best, but his form is
up and down and he never threatened.
BRAE ON was out the back most of the way and only passed a
couple late on.
MOSCOW MENACE was behind form the twelfth and his recent
form is poor, while TUTCHEC was well behind from three out and has been
regressive in recent times.
2.50 2m 1f Canada Life Handicap Chase (115-133)
A decent event for an ‘end of season’ contest and a nicely
progressive winner.
ALWAYS ON THE RUN set the pace jumping well and kicked on
going to the last. The pursuers were catching him toward the line but I suspect
he was doing no more than he absolutely had to in front. He won’t go up a huge amount
for this so can still get into 0-140 contests and, as last season, will likely
be kept going on the faster ground.
SPECIAL CATCH had his chance two out, was then outpaced
before closing on the idling winner on the flat. He’s largely exposed, but capable
at this level and can handle this ground or softer.
UBALTIQUE was held up in rear and passed a few from two out.
Although a shade quirky he wins a shade more than his share of races. The
stable representative stated that he will now being given a rest before
returning for an autumn campaign.
AYE WELL had a chance two out but was one paced from that
point. He has run a few decent races this season and is another that will
presumably be off for a summer holiday.
KATGARY was making a first appearance for Pauline Robson and
was firmly put in his place from two out. A winner over 2m 5f for Paul
Nicholls, his new stable can some encouragement from this effort considering
that a serious error four out did not help his cause.
INDIAN VOYAGE has had a busy campaign, running creditably on
most occasions, but this may have been one race too many.
CLUES AND ARROWS needed the race on return and was behind by
halfway. He has ability and should not be written off.
3.25 2m 6½f Hunter Real Estate Investments Managers Novices’
Handicap Hurdle (89-110)
Sponsors really do need to learn to get to the point quicker
with their race titles!
What looked to be a moderate contest at first glance might
prove to be quite decent for its level. GOLDEN INVESTMENT looks a staying chaser
in the making, led all the way and stayed on well up the hill. I would assume
he will go chasing next term and looks capable.
TICKANRUN has yet to win but clearly stays well and kept on
to the line for second. A staying hurdle on softer ground will likely suit
best.
Lightly raced KK LEXION looked very dangerous before the
last but couldn’t quite see out the distance. The race may well bring him on
and he should have his day in the sun before long.
BASSARABAD has looked an out-and-out stayer but was outpaced
from two out here. He has seemed better with more cut.
Maiden MISTER DON made no impression.
RED STORY was equipped with a cross-noseband which is not
typical of Alistair Whillans’s runners. He was comfortably put in his plae from
two out.
HEILAN REBEL was disappointing and didn’t appear to benefit
form a step up in trip that I imagined would suit.
4.00 3m 2f Bedmax Handicap Chase (84-114)
This was a race featuring largely exposed sort that was run
at a decent pace.
SCOTSWELL is decent at this level when on song and made the
running until headed two out. He rallied well and was back on top after the
last. Although handling soft in the past he is probably at his best on good
ground.
WHATS UP WOODY would normally make the pace but didn’t seem
overly perturbed by being taken on. He came to lead two out but found the
winner stronger from the last. He remains on a workable mark.
COBAJAYISLAND chased the leaders and had his chance but was
outpaced going to the last.
MORE MADNESS made his effort three out but didn’t make a
serious impression. He’s a plodder best suited by a stamina test but is not
often a winner.
BLUE KASCADE looked fit for his return after a break but was
well held from three out.
DREAM FLYER never got into the contest and nor did FOOT THE
BILL, tailed off in the latter stages and walked in.
LUCEMATIC looked fire up pre-race but well beaten by four
out and pulled up two out.
Veteran SOLWAY BAY had retained his zest for the game, but
was lack lustre here and tailed off on the final circuit before being pulled
up.
VIKING REBEL’s jockey lost his irons at the fifth and had no
choice but to go around the next and pull up.
4.35 2m Principal and Prosper Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap
Hurdle (105-119)
ASH PARK bounced back to form to add to his Carlisle win. He
led two out and saw his race out well. (Since
ran a creditable second in what looked a slightly weaker event at Hexham three
days later)
DYNAMIC DRIVE has waited out the winter in his comfy stable
awaiting the better ground. He put it to the winner two out but was just held
despite seeing his race out well. This sound effort augurs well for the summer
campaign.
NEVILLE WOODS has changed stables and his intermittent
appearances suggest problems. He was mounted on the track which in itself suggests
he’s awkward but, having been held up, he kept on well from two out for a never
nearer third place and is no lost cause.
WEAPON OF CHOICE made some progress three out but was then
outpaced.
THEATRICAL STYLE led three out but was headed two out and
weakened.
WHERE’S TIGER returned after a break during which included a
wind operation. He made the running until two out but faded quickly and it
remains to be seen if this was lack of fitness or a recurring problem.
Most notable to me was that the colours of this one were
‘Primrose, rose hops, rose cap’, which a racing nut would recognise as those of
the Earl Of Rosebery. Owner Lady Jane Kaplan is the daughter of the 7th
Earl of Rosebery, and it appears has acquired the colours along with her
husband Michael.
5.05 2m 5½f Glendale Engineering Novices’ Hunters’ Chase
(Class 5)
The open ditch two out was omitted on the final circuit
having been badly damaged.
SIX A SIDE has been rattling in the wins in the pointing
field, 7 from 14 this side of the Irish Sea. A look back through his record and
I note he ran behind The Last Sumari on his last outing in the Irish pointing
field. He made a very encouraging Rules debut here, leading two out and
sprinting clear in the manner of a decent animal at this level. Emma Todd has
proved her training ability with Railway Dillon and has a serious animal on her
hands here.
DANEHILL WELLS stepped up on recent Rules efforts and kept
on well enough to hold second place. He’s inexperienced over regulation fences
and may improve on this in similar company.
NEW VIC couldn’t quite match the
level of his Buccleuch Cup effort, chasing the leader from three out but unable
to make an impression.
MISS BISCOTTI was outpaced from two out. She has shown
glimmers of form under Rules and Gary Rutherford may be able to coax better out
of her in points given time.
LITTLE FRITZ led four out going well but couldn’t offer an
answer once the stakes were upped going to the omitted two out.
COOTE STREET finished last of the six to get round. His few appearances
suggest a poor performer and hunter chasing him is the height of optimism.
CRAZY DIAMOND was one of the three given a strong chance in
the market but was most un-cooperative. Not keen to move on the track, he was
walked to the start but it became clear he wasn’t going to jump off and he was
withdrawn.
The remainder were pulled up.
BEAU TRAVELLER was turned out in a bright pink rug and
matching accessories! On the course he’s a Rules maiden and hardly likely to
change things at 13. The main mark he left was to walk through the eighth, the
open ditch, rendering it unusable on the final circuit. And walk through it he
did as he hardly took off!
MR SHAHADY has been placed in weak points but quickly gave
way from four out here.
SCOTSMAN raced prominently for a while but struggling from a
mile out.
SIR WATTY has won a point but isn’t remotely good enough at
this level.
5.35 2m Ferguson Planning and Development Standard Open
National Hunt Flat (Div 1) (Class 5)
Two divisions of the bumper gives plenty to keep me happy.
Market Rasen scorer MONTY MEWS quickening nicely off a fair
pace and pulling well clear in the final furlong. On looks he has every chance
of turning into a jumper.
NICHOLAS T had run two fair races previously and showed
plenty of determination when asked to battle for second place. He’s proved
rather keen on last two outings but there should be a race in him over hurdles.
TALES OF THE TWEED was the less forward of the two Henderson
representatives in the two legs. A third place was an acceptable start, seeing out
his race to the line and he should build on this given the summer to strengthen
a bit more.
ARCTIC DESTINATION looks all over a jumper in the making. He
set a respectable pace and didn’t places lightly in the closing stages. He’s a
point winner and worth bearing in mind once going over hurdles.
MAYO STAR was outpointed from three out. He’s a brother to
five winners, and not a bad looker, but may just need a little time.
PIKARNIA found this tougher than the two bumpers contested
last year.
WARDEN LAW looks a long term project and didn’t have speed
enough here, well behind from the home turn.
TRINITY HOUSE is related to winners, the most successful
being Scat Daddy a multiple winner around 9 furlongs on US dirt. The downside
is that he was a cheap buy and wearing tongue strap on debut. He got well behind
and was walked in but doesn’t encourage.
HERE COMES HOVIS was outpaced after a mile and trotted to the
finish.
6.05 2m Ferguson Planning and Development Standard Open
National Hunt Flat (Div 2) (Class 5)
THOMAS CAMPBELL’s price of 11/2 might well have been due to
a seventh place on debut, but he was the more forward of the Henderson runners.
He burst away from the pack over a furlong out and sprinted clear. Promising,
but his brother Magna Cartor was precocious in bumpers for this stable but
showed little over jumps.
UNCLE PERCY was well held by the winner but saw his race out
well enough. A promising start for this four-year-old and he looks a fair prospect
for Micky Hammond in time.
ACDC was taken off his feet when the pace quickened but stayed
on relentlessly from two out to finish a clear third. He didn’t see a racecourse
until the age of six, so is clearly a late developer, but this performance suggests
that stamina will be his strong suit.
DAKLONDIKE raced prominently but was outpaced from two out. He
won his Irish point in a decent time compared with races no the same card, so
is worth keeping a quiet eye on for the future.
GET RHYTHM led at a reasonable pace but gave way once headed
after two out. He’s an Irish point winner from a race that hasn’t worked out too
badly.
POT COMMITTED couldn’t build on a third at Navan after an 80
day break.
TIGER MOUNTAIN was left behind from six out.
GLINGERSIDE was a 48,000 Euro purchase but showed nothing of
note here despite looking far enough forward.
BORDER VICTOR looks like a chaser and will need a fair bit
of time if he’s to do anything, but he was well tailed off here.
