KELSO – Saturday October 27th
Going – Good (Good To Firm in places)
I’ve had quite a few things on in recent months involved with work,
Rotary Club, Young Enterprise and home stuff so haven’t been able to update. I
hope to make more time in the coming weeks and have a few meetings lined up as
the Scottish jumps season gets into full swing.
A bright but chilly day at Kelso. The cold had really bitten by the last
race and there were no more than a handful atop the roof for the closing event.
The ground was generally good all the way round, a few quicker patches,
particularly down the side of the course, though my heel made a mark in most
places and there’s a lush covering of grass. Wind was very chilly and pretty
much across from the right heading up the straight.
1.50 2m Maiden Hurdle (Class 4)
As a hurdles event this was not strong, but there are a few to take
forward as chasers of the future and there may be a minor hurdle or tow to be
landed.
The winner GOLDENCARD is viewed as a long term chasing prospect but had
speed enough to see these off. Setting the pace, Brian Hughes wound things up
from three out and nothing got to him. The winner is likely to contest a novice
hurdle under a penalty and will then be put away awaiting the good ground in
the spring.
THELONGWAYAROUND is a nice chasing sort with a bit of developing still
to do. He chased vainly after the leader from two out but held a clear second
place and a step up in trip will do no harm.
STAROZOV from Jackie Stephen’s stable can be made fitter. He was tapped
for speed from three out but was by no means disgraced and saw his race out.
This was an encouraging start as was that of stablemate CAPTAIN KURT who fairly
rattled home in the closing stages under hands and heels.
2.25 2m 7½f Novices’ Handicap Chase (Class 4)
KING GOLAN dominated an event over a shorter distance here last time
and once again was unchallenged. Given an uncontested lead he once again jumped
accurately and had plenty to spare once asked to kick on in the final straight.
He’ll go up a fair bit for this, but if able to dominate in similar fashion can
pick up another race or two.
Those others with form didn’t particularly encourage and there was
plenty of scruffy jumping. BOCASIEN DESBOIS kept on but got no closer to winner
than last time.
ST QUINTIN showed a modicum of promise in third place on chase debut
after a stable swap and long lay-off. He will presumably be kept on good ground
and is not a totally lost cause.
3.00 3m 2f Handicap Chase (Class 2)
This was a weak Class 2 event.
DANDY DAN ploughed through the second fence and didn’t treat the next
with an awful lot of respect. However, he was putting the leader under pressure
when the latter came down two out. Dandy Dan is a five-year-old novice with
plenty of promise going forward and saw out this trip most convincingly.
RED GIANT was aiming a little higher after being unfortunate in missing
out at Sedgefield. He jumped round well enough but was found for pace in the
last half mile.
I JUST KNOW may need it softer but set a far tempo in front. He was
under the pump but still leading when totally misjudging the ditch two out. He
led the National until coming down at Becher’s in April and presumably that would
be his target in 2019.
LOFGREN made mistakes, never got into the contest and was tailed off
when pulled up two out.
3.35 2m Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
The curse of the low sun struck with the two hurdles in the straight omitted.
That aside the second last is at a completely different angle from the last in
current arrangement and I do wonder if that could have been kept in. In the
event the race turned into a four furlong sprint from the last.
IOLANI is in good heart and battled determinedly to hold off
challengers to record a narrow win. He’ll go up a bit for this, though it’s
hardly jump form and he shouldn’t, but can make it four in there’s not too much
rain.
LITTLE STEVIE ran as well as he has done for ages in second. DESERT
ISLAND DUSK is often thereabouts in this company and a rooftop regular landed
the place part of 40/1 each-way which would rank as one of the better bets of
the autumn.
4.10 2m 1f Handicap Chase (Class 4)
Reasons to oppose all of these and four still had a chance two out.
Plenty of faffing about before start as various parties discussed the low sun
which was deemed not a problem as cloud started to provide some cover.
MIDDLEBROW is a weak finisher but got left in front as runners came to
the end of their tether. He just held on after a renewed challenge from CIVIL
UNREST who is performing well for a veteran, and has that ability to keep on to
the line that James Ewart’s horse demonstrate.
CHAIN OF BEACONS looked the likely winner at the last but ran out of
steam close home on return from a wind operation. The run won’t have done him
any harm and he has a generally positive profile results wise in recent times.
VENGEUR DE GUYE was run out of it from two out and needs softer ground.
SUDSKI STAR resented being taken on for the lead and was struggling from
four out.
4.40 2m 5f Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
ONE NIGHT IN MILAN stayed on well to follow up his Thursday Carlisle
win. Keith Dlagleish is a trainer that can continue to exploit this one’s
upward profile.
SOMETHING BREWING ran creditably in second and would have every chance of
picking up a similar contest, while GREEN ZONE had his chance approaching the
last and appeared to run to his level.
BUCKLED set the pace but couldn’t respond once passed two out and BIG
TIME DANCER was similarly outpaced from that point.
5.15 3m 2f Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
There was a farce at the start of this race. WYFIELD ROSE planted
herself and it was quite clear she wasn’t interested in racing, yet the starter
let them go without any apparent efforts to withdraw. The BHA Stewards offered
a statement afterwards on Twitter (and in the Stewards Report) that Wyfield Rose
was deemed a runner. If these are the rules then the rules stink and if I’d
backed the errant animal then I would be furious. My comment to this effect on
Twitter was ignored by @BHAStewards.
CHANCEITON showed up well in points for Lucinda Russell last term and
came with a nicely timed run to lead before the last and win a shade cosily.
This one will continue to make hay where stamina is at a premium.
DAVID JOHN looked to have seen off allcomers until challenged on the run
to the last and lost very little in defeat. This was a significant step up on
stable debut three weeks ago.
HANDY HOLLOW ran a sound race
close up in third with the remainder well seen off.
