KELSO – Sunday January 15th 2017
Going – Heavy (Soft in places)
After a cold week we were blessed with a mild day to kick
off Kelso’s 2017 programme. Overnight rain meant a slight easing in the ground
and my estimation was somewhere between Soft and Heavy, a couple of swampy bits
in the dips!
12.40 Kelso EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier)
2m 6f 151y Class 4
A decent little contest to start us off, though the finish
was a slow motion job as the testing conditions told. Form looks sound with not
an awful lot to split the principals.
PROGRESS DRIVE took it up going to two out and had to be
driven to keep the lead from the last, but he gave willingly and saw his race
out. He’s got the look of a chaser about
him and is going the right way. One of
the roof top sages commented that he made hard work of his Ayr win, so there
may remain a bit of juice in his price in forthcoming events.
PERFECT PIRATE gamely pressed the winner from two out but
couldn’t get past on the uphill slog. He’s a winner at Towcester and should
take a similar event at a stiffer track, the likes of Towcester and Exeter
being slightly more handy venues.
RYEDALE RACER doesn’t have the most robust build of the
first two but put up a decent effort under a double penalty. He looked done for
when passed before two out, but stuck doggedly to his task until running out of
petrol in the final half furlong.
DR WEST looked as if the race would help him along. He’s a
nice enough sort that will win a race or two in time and not asked too much
once beaten turning for home.
QUIETLY looked nicely fit, but unseated at the first, while
ROCKU is a big boat of an animal who was readily outpaced from a mile out.
1.10 D.G. Pryde Ltd Novices' Hurdle 2m 51y Class 4
Generally an unimpressive lot in the paddock, and the better lookers were the ones to make
a mark. A few out the back don’t look good enough to get competitive.
SEEMORELIGHTS wasn’t in the front rank in bumpers, but
looked a different animal with jumps in front of him, generally hurdling well
and staying on up the hill to good effect. This was impressive and I suspect
there will be more to come over hurdles for a trainer whose reputation remains
on the rise.
RED INDIAN had every chance and was held from the last. A
decent enough effort under a penalty in conditions which suit him well. Time
might prove that he ‘ran into one’ here.
HELMSLEY LAD won a moderate Sedgefield bumper last night
time, but made an encouraging hurdles
debut. He raced in touch, led two out and didn’t give in easily once headed.
DEAR SIRE had his chance if good enough but was cast aside
from two out. A fair enough effort
nevertheless and there may be a softer contest for him.
CHARMANT led early but was beaten two out and will probably
need to be handicapped before being seriously competitive.
UNCLE PERCY, a stable companion of the second, looked plenty
fit enough but was readily put in his place from before two out.
SLANELOUGH has ability, but pulled hard and burnt up vital
reserves required in these conditions. Don’t
forget this one though as there may be better to come if he learns to settle.
1.40 EBF/TBA Mares' Novices' Handicap Chase 2m 7f 96y –
Class 3
Progressive mare TWO SMOKIN BARRELS took this contest with a
bit more in hand than the four and a half length margin suggests. She raced
handy, took it up going to the last and had plenty in the tank to see off a
determined second. Where she goes from here will depend on how the handicapper
views this performance. She’s a winner on better ground and stays very well,
possibly one of the lesser ‘Nationals’ might be on the radar.
CONQUER GOLD, a well-made mare, notched a most encouraging
debut over fences and only had to give best from the last. This was only her
fifth jumps race and there is surely a staying chase to be won with her soon.
She’s only raced on soft or heavy to date and clearly has good reserves of
stamina.
BILLY BILLY tried hard but couldn’t match the first two from
three out and was heavily eased on the run-in.
MILLY BALOO has run well on heavy but to my mind seemed ill
at ease jumping out of the mud here. She was never travelling with ease and a
bad mistake four out put paid to her faint glimmer of a chance.
LA DAMA DI HIERRO was beaten and looked very tired when
flopping over the open ditch two out. She was up straight away and OK bar
streaks of mud down one side, but I suspect Brian Hughes may have pulled her up
if he had another go.
2.10 Ferneyhill Handicap Hurdle 2m 51y – Class 2
Decent prize money for this contest but a rather disappointing
turn out. Nothing particularly
progressive here and the best suited by the conditions prevailed comfortably.
TEO VIVO travelled well and came clear in impressive
fashion. His three previous wins have been on soft and,
though competitive on faster, he’s
clearly best in the mud. Bound to go up significantly for a comfortable win,
he’s worth opposing off a new mark.
SLEEPY HAVEN has had plenty of racing and doesn’t look
entirely straight forward. This was an
honest enough performance though, beaten by one relishing the conditions. He’s
not quite at the 132 level he won off in 2015.
NUTS WELL was in with a chance until outpaced from two out.
Conditions were no problem and he simply wasn’t good enough on this occasion.
ARISTO DU PLESSIS has been disappointing this season, but
the way he’s been campaigned can’t have helped. He struggled when dropped in at
the seriously deep end on chase debut at Cheltenham, and has failed to
recover over hurdles since. He was
beaten before two out here, despite a sympathetic ride from Lucy Alexander.
One to take from this race might be MEADOWCROFT BOY who ran
with some promise off a break. He can be made fitter and was still bang there
after two out before weakening.
MARCUS ANTONIUS failed to cope with a two grade step up in
class, though picked up pocket money for sixth.
2.40 Royal Caledonian Hunt Handicap Chase 2m 5f 133y – Class
2
A decent little contest won in fine style by Nicky Richards
trained BERNADELLI. He was raised in
class here, but the subsequently lower weight appeared to more than balance
that he came clear from two out. The down side is that he will be on a career
high of around 140 after the handicapper has his say. He’s best at middle
distances in the mud.
SPANISH FLEET was outpaced two out but kept on to pass
weakening rivals in the closing stages. He shouldn’t go up for this and remains
on a workable mark in lesser company.
DE VOUS A MOI led for much of the way but was outpaced from
four out. He weakened slightly less quickly than a couple of others and gained
third on the line.
FINE RIGHTLY was aimed at the stars in the Lexus and failed
to get out of the atmosphere here. He
won a Cork Grade 3 chase last spring, but it was a soft event and he looks
opposable at the moment.
FINAL ASSAULT threatened before two out but could make no
further impression. He seems plenty high enough in the weights right now.
3.10 P & G
Allan Catering Handicap Hurdle 3m 1f 170y – Class 5
A right old slog in the conditions for these moderate
performers.
BESCOT SPRINGS wins
in his turn and was the only one raising a gallop at the end, coming clear on
the run-in under capable claimer Alexander Thorne, whose 10lbs here was worth
any amount. A good old slog seems to
suit this veteran performer these days.
SNAPPING TURTLE is often thereabouts at this level and had
his chance before being easily outpaced on the flat.
KINGS ECLIPSE ran a brave race in third place, leading
before three out going well and looking the likely winner before weakening
approaching the last. He was in distress after the race and had to be sluiced
with water by veterinary staff for some time. However, he recovered and will
surely win a staying hurdle if suffering no long term effects.
BRAE ON plodded on but never got in a blow and gets home in
his own time.
NOTONEBUTTWO is suited by these conditions but was beaten
before two out having travelled well enough.
HURRICANE RITA is another suited by the conditions but,
having raced prominently, she was cast aside from four out.
3.40 Eildon Hill Stables Open Hunters' Chase 2m 7f 96y –
Class 5
Some decent animals turned up to kick off the Scottish
hunters’ season.
BLACK THUNDER Cost the Waley-Cohen’s good money before
disappointing in last year’s Grand National. He had to make a decent showing
and stayed on from two out to see off two rivals who are round about the same
level. He will be aimed at the
Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase for which he needs one more qualifying run.
DOLATULO should arguably have won this. Having been outpaced
going to two out, he was staying on well after the last but rider Dougie
Gittins tried to go up the rail and couldn’t get past grand vision and couldn’t
get close enough after that. He was still closing when his rider sat up in the
last 20 yards, I suspect out of frustration though some suggest he mistook the
winning post. Gittins got a 10 day ban, maybe harsh given that he wouldn’t have
won, Dolatulo ought to win a hunter chase or two this season, and I presume
Cheltenham would be his target.
GRAND VISION matched the winner until just before the last
and comes out of the race with credit. He was fourth in the Kim Muir last
season and is another who could conceivably line up at Cheltenham if
qualifying.
MISTER MARKER came home in his own time as the only other
finisher, Siobhan Doolan was not hard on him. There will be easier
opportunities in the coming months.
NOWURHURLIN is decent at his level but found trying to match
better hunters beyond him and was tired when pulled up in the latter stages.
BARRICK’s HILL will presumably be pointing which is nearer
his level while CHICAGO OUTFIT found the principals much too classy and
couldn’t keep up.
GREEN FLAG, a decent chaser off the track for two years, was
not given a hard time once held and his trainer was apparently satisfied with
his return. He will be sharper next time.
