Sunday 28 October 2018

Back for 2018-19 - Kelso 'Halloween Meeting'


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.

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