KELSO – Saturday October 28th
Going - Good
Turf in superb condition once again for the first autumn
Saturday meeting.
The form of the maiden hurdle from the previous meeting
first by TEMPLE MAN (5th prev.) who won the first division and then by SOME
REIGN ,winner of the second division, who was 3 lengths down to Beyond The
Clouds last time. The latter is entered at Wetherby on Saturday in a novice
event under a penalty but it will take a very good one to beat him. Looking back to the previous meeting KELPIE'S
MYTH (sixth having made much of the running) now comes into the equation as a
future winner.
The opening heat including a number of animals that look
like long term projects and performed encouragingly at this stage. SILVER BULLION
is a big boat of an animal sure to come into his own over fences, but possessed
sufficient speed to win a bumper and get involved in a five way battle here.
ECHO EXPRESS is more of a hurdling type and looked the most
likely winner until headed virtually on the line and should gain consolation in
a run of the mill maiden or novice.
ROCKALZARO was bang there all the way to the line as was the
free-going POOKIE PEKAN, a definite chasing type, who was headed two out but
battled tenaciously to finish a close fourth.
MOORES NOVELTY looked as if the race might do him some good,
but loomed up behind the leaders approaching the last before weakening on the
run-in
SOME REIGN had to be ridden out to win his maiden, but was
doing very little in front and the distances to the others don’t tell of his
superiority. Better to come methinks!
TRESHNISH stayed on nicely for second here and looks one to
improve over further with experience.
Lucinda Russell's BIG RIVER impressed on chasing debut,
potentially the stable star this season with the enforced absence of Grand
National winner One For Arthur. He jumps big and bold and could well contest
top level staying novice contests this season. Big River's task was made somewhat
easier when Paul Nicholls charge GIVE ME A COPPER jinked sharply at the
'chicane' going away from the second fence and unshipped Sam Bowen. The latter
seems a keen going sort.
The other three contestants weren't remotely of the class of
the winner by well done to Chris Grant, whose ACDC showed promise on chasing
bow, and Kenny Johnson who fielded two to hunt round for 3rd and 4th prize
money.
The feature handicap chase was won in comfortable style by
Nicholls trained AS DE MEE, but he was probably favoured by the small field and
doesn't look totally straight forward. WAKANDA ran a sound race on seasonal
debut and will strip fitter for this run, while ASH PARK ran well from out of
the weights and will be interesting back in a lower class race. FIRTH OF THE
CLYDE had stamina to prove here and wasn’t a factor from the home turn, while
THE CLOCK LEARY may be a bit high in the handicap now and struggled in this company.
It was good to see Alistair Whillans's MEADOWCROFT BOY win
the two handicap hurdle. He was a 137 performer at best but clearly had
problems and raced here off 105. He won well enough to suggest he might have a
bit in hand at this level and may be able to follow up.
CIVIL UNREST ran creditably in the second, this 0-117 is his
level, and he will have his chances in the coming months. ALIZEE DE JANEIRO
stayed on for third place and is another capable at this level on her day and a
previous course winner.
The Class 4 2m 7f handicap chase had a selection of
contestants with plenty of previous offences to be taken into consideration. I’ve
been dismissive of HAVANA JACK in the past, but he has worked his way through
the hunter ranks and improved enough to win this race. He rallied well when
challenged from the last and Leonard Kerr should take credit for the
improvement he has coaxed with this animal.
ACHILL HILL BOY raced prominently and harried the winner from
two out. He ploughed through the last and couldn’t get back up to the winner
but this was decent effort.
NOTONEBUTTWO isn’t the most consistent animal but does get
competitive in this class when things fall right. Good thing is that he often
starts at a fancy price (33/1 here) and can be worth a little interest where
there’s nothing progressive to latch on to.
DOKTOR GLAZ got no nearer than chasing the leaders from two
out.
FRENCH SEVENTYFIVE led or disputed to four out and, though
held, didn’t completely throw in the towel from four out. He was 10lbs wrong
here and if he could perform like this would have a chance in a Class 5 event.
MO ROUGE was out the back most of the way and is not
enamoured with steeplechasing.
The card finished with two divisions of a 2m 6f 0-105
handicap hurdle not strong in depth and the results favoured those at the top
end of the weights. BUCKLED held off TOO MANY CHIEFS in the first heat, both
having won in similar company last term, with the veteran BESCOT SPRINGS
showing he retains some ability in third place. The second heat was dominated
by less exposed animals at the top of the weights, consistent REIVERS LODGE
coming clear from CHAPEL STILE, with CEEGEM staying on for third having been
outpaced. If I was taking one from the two heats it would be the latter, though
the form looks no better than average for the class.
