KELSO – Saturday March 4th
Going – Heavy
Overnight rain led to testing ground. Walking the course
pre-racing it was as heavy as I can remember it, with a little surface water
evident in places.
The car park was a mess. I was directed to a particularly
boggy area, but could see the potential problems and parked in a firmer spot
down the bottom end. The middle of the parking area was a complete mess by the end
of the afternoon and a decent parking surface, hard core or mesh, must surely
be a priority for the racecourse.
2.15 2m Terry Frame Joiners Novices’ Hurdle (Class 4)
A weakly contested novice hurdle to open the card but some
encouragement going forward.
REIVERS LAD travelled smoothly in front and had this
comfortably won from two out. He’s donenicely over hurdles but he has the stamp
of a chaser and I’d expect him to go over fences sooner rather than later.
SLANELOUGH’s trainer Rose Dobbin was called in over the running
of this one. However, I think Tony Kelly got it sport on, achieving a decent
place by holding his mount up and let him stay on from three out. Third was
likely best and by conservative running he was able to take an encouraging second
place. His second in an Athlacca point last year looks solid form and he will
benefit from a step up in trip.
LASTIN MEMORIES is a nice sort who provided encouragement on
hurdling debut, raced at the head of the main group for much of the race and
plugging on for third. Sandy Forster isn’t one to hurry her charges and in time
could have a chaser on her hands here.
MULTIPEDE is presumably passing time in these races awaiting
a handicap mark. He was never in with a chance though fourth here looked a
little better than previous efforts.
HENPECKED made her effort three out but didn’t get close and
stamina gave out.
ASKGARMOR is a point winner but looks a long term project
under Rules and was never in this contest.
VISERION, contesting favouritism with the winner, chased that
one until the home straight but had nothing in the tank from two out. On the
face of it this really test ground found the bottom of him.
2.50 2m 1f Cyril Alexander Memorial (Novices’ Handicap)
Chase (109-130)
A great day for Nick Alexander as he landed his father’s memorial
race with a gelding out of his own mare Harrietfield. Only piece missing from
the family jigsaw was Lucy Alexander, still sidelined, but Brian Hughes is a
pretty decent substitute.
CLAN LEGEND travelled nicely in front and responded gamely
up the straight to repel two determined challengers. First time tongue tie
appeared to do no harm.
MASTER JAKE is possibly not straight forward, but kept
responding for pressure from the home bend if never quite getting to the
winner.
The one to take from this may be FOREST DES AIGLES who
stepped on his previous form for the Russell yard. Mixing it with Clan Legend,
he held every chance approaching the last but was outpointed on the run-in. A
decent effort and there’s scope for a drop in class off his mark of 109. He should
pick up a chase.
ASH PARK didn’t jump well enough to get competitive on this occasion.
UN PROPHETE made mistakes and a bad blunder at the sixth saw
his jockey call it a day.
2.50 2m 2f totescoop6 Premier Kelso Novices’ Hurdle (Grade
2)
This event normally throws up a decent winner and MOUNT MEWS
looks no different, though the race fell apart for him. That said, he was
galloping on strongly and there looks more to come. He travelled well throughout
and left the second behind from two out. I believe he is now aimed at Aintree which
might be the better target with everyone so obsessed with Cheltenham. If you
can pick up 21 grand for winning this Grade 2 surely you have one jump on the
Cheltenham mob?
CHALONNIAL looks work in progress but came into this off a
respectable run last. He held every chance on the home bend but weakened from
two out and was tired on the run-in. This one looks work in progress and is a
tall gelding who will likely prove best over fences.
FAIRLEE GREY sent off in front at a fair rattle but came
under pressure on the home bend and gave way. He may have passed Chalonnial but
flopped over the last in tired fashion and took a while to get up, though he
seemed none the worse on walking back.
CAPITAINE, a gelding who has been mixing it at the top
level, weakened quickly coming to the seventh hurdle and was soon pulled up.
The vet found nothing untoward so we can only assume that the going was just
too testing.
3.25 2m 7½f totepoolliveinfo.com Premier Chase (Listed)
SELDOM INN has always threatened to be a performer that
could make a mark at this level. The front two in the market under performed by
Sandy Thomson’s charge galloped clear from two out. His jumping is not as crisp
as it might be and I fancy the intended target of Scottish National make put
his fencing skills under pressure. A small field suits him well.
TENOR NIVERNAIS couldn’t dominate here as he had done at
Ascot and struggled from two out. He
needs things to fall his way and doesn’t strike me as a Grand National type.
LE MERCUREY is another entered for Aintree but was found out
from two out here. He may be better at shorter distances and, to put it bluntly,
I don’t get the Grand National entry.
Well done to Sandy Forster picking up around £1500 for LOWANBEHOLD
pootling round in his own time for fourth place. He’s sure footed and was
sensibly ridden by Jamie Hamilton.
BERNADELLI was outpaced going on to the final circuit and a
bad blunder at the first down the first side saw him quickly pulled up.
4.35 2m 5½f Premier Traffic Management Handicap Chase
(94-112)
Brian Hughes made it a four-timer with a well judged front
running ride on THE ORANGE ROGUE. That’s two wins in a row and this one fell
just right so I suspect The Orange Rogue may be opposable off a higher mark in
future.
ROSQUERO is one of the more under rated performers at this
level. He often starts at a fancy price but gets involved regularly and gave
each-way followers a nice return at 25/1. He was under pressure quite a way
out, but kept in the picture until held from the last. He has won over a range
of distances and has no problem with testing conditions.
ACHILL ROAD BOY kept on from two out without threatening the
winner. His one win was in a Class 5 event.
SPOILS OF WAR was tried in blinkers here with no obvious improvement.
He could make no serious impression from two out.
VERKO briefly threatened three out but didn’t get any
closer. He won four times in small fields last season but hasn’t gone close
this time around.
DANEHILLS WELL raced prominently until weakening three out
and was pulled up before the last. His two wins have come in points.
DREAM FLYER won at Musselburgh in January on good ground and
balance of form suggests he needs decent ground. He has won on soft but that
was a weak 4-runner event. He weakened four out and was pulled up before the
next.
MOON INDIGO is another whose form patterns suggests he needs
much better ground than this. Pulled up here having been well beaten twice on
heavy recently one wonders what his trainer’s thinking is. He may retain
ability but I’d want ‘good’ in the ground description before it can be judged
one way or another.
5.10 2m 6½f Carnacrack Handicap Hurdle (88-112)
Most of these had negatives against them and SAMMY B is at
least one that seems to be going in the right direction. Always up with the
pace he asserted from two out and pulled readily clear. He will go up
significantly for this, but is going the right way and should jump a fence in
time.
LATE DATE has hinted at being capable of winning a race but
found one way too good. There should be a moderate staying event for him. He’s
another that should make into a chaser at his own level.
COURT BALOO never got into the race and was well held in
third.
ZARU led until two out and then weakened. He did at least
get round but the form of this run is hardly more inspiring than recent
efforts.
McGINTY’S DREAM was well backed, presumably off the back of
the success of Messrs Hughes and Alexander during the day, but never got to the
leaders. Class 5 events are his level.
The Sayer pair of GOLD CHAIN and RONALDINHO were pulled and
not threatening success at this time.
ONE TO NOTE:
FOREST DES AIGLES should win a chase.
ONE FROM LEFT FIELD:
MOON INDIGO might be worth a punt at fancy odds if given a
chance on good to soft or good ground.
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