KELSO - Sunday May 29th
Going - Good To Firm
2.12 2m Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
Irish trainers must have a chuckle when they check out novice hurdles in the North of Great Britain at this time of year as they are very weakly contested. The two Irish challengers filled the first two places.
CIRQUE ROYAL followed up his Perth win with a comofrtable victory here, pulling away from his main rival from before the last. He goes very well on fast ground and, with a douible penalty looming in novice contests, may well be aimed at handicaps in the coming weeks.
TED HASTINGS looks more of a chasing trype than the winner. He kept on from two out without threatening hte winner.
FOXHOLLOW was outpointed by the first two but ran a decent race, stepping up significantly on Perth form, despite looknig as if the race owuld still bring him on.
ZIHUATENAJO raced prominently for a long way, offering some encouragement after a long time off the track.
2.47 2m 5f (Class 4) Handicap Chase
EXIT TO WHERE has proved difficult to win with but held on here despite sticking his head in the air once he had passed the second. Not sure he achieved much as the runner-up conceded a lot of ground at the start and I would oppose a follow up.
FLAMBOYANT JOYAUX was left 10 lengths at the start. He worked his way into the contest and looked the likely winner when kicking on from two out, but a scruffy jump at the last allowed the winner to head him. He battled back but was just held.
PASSNOTALEGEND jumped well and raced at or near the front for a long way. He weakened quickly in the straight, but no report of anything amiss so I assume it was lack of condition.
3.22 2m (Class 2) Handicap Hurdle
No better than an average Class 3 contest with the top weight on 131.
RICH BELIEF showed a distinct 'tippy-tappy' fast ground action on the way to start, and he clearly revels in these conditions. All six runners had a chance two out, but on the run to the last Rich Belief was the only one not under the pump and he asserted comfortably from the last. One to keep an eye on this summer both sides of the Irish Sea if fast surfaces prevail.
THE NAVIGATOR ran a solid enough race to finish second to an opponent well favoured by conditions.
INGLEBY HOLLOW normally runs well at this level but often finds one or two too good. He had his chance approaching the last but could find no more and had to settle for third.
CASTEL GANDOLFO jumped indifferently, so probably did well to finish a reltaively close fourth.
GAELIK COAST reverted to hurdles with a first time tongue tie, but continues a little below par.
3.57 3m 2f (Class 4) Handicap Hurdle
Not a strong contest for the level, but won in encouraging style by hte improving BRANDY McQUEEN. This one caught my eye at Musselburgh in March (2m 4f) and has improved with the step up in trip. He doesn't do anything quick but gallops on relentlessly and is well suited by a stamina test. Looks the type for staying chases in time.
PADDY THE PANDA kept on without threatening the winenr, as did TARTAN COOKIE. As with BONNY HOUXTY who led for a long way, they should be competitive in Class 5 staying events.
4.32 2m 7.5f (Class 3) Novices' Handicap Chase
HIDDEN COMMANDER reversed form with CASTLETOWN on 8lbs better terms for C/D defeat here earlier in the month. The winner's stamina was a doubt, but it proved no problem and he comfortably held a chief rival who doesn't find much under pressure.
YOUNG JACK YEATS jumped poorly and was beaten two out.
HOLD THE NOTE last on in 2018, a wind operation and first time blinkers bringing about no improvement. He was beaten three out and almost stopped to a wlak on the run-in.
5.07 3m 2f (Class 3) Hunters' Chase
Things do not look good for hunter chasing in the area. There have been small fields all season and less races programmed then in previous seasons and there's a lack of quality performers.
STEELY ADDITION turned around form with Perth conqueror POINT THE WAY. He led three out and had the race in safekeeping on the run to the last. His trainer has had a successful season with this one, bagging all 4 points that he has contested and adding a hunter chase to that collection here.
GRAASTEN, a traveller from Chinnor in Oxfordshire, kept on for second in honest fashion but will need a weak contest to score under Rules.
POINT THE WAY made his effort before hte home turn but wasn't good enough on the day.
5.40 2m (Class 3) NH Flat
COME ON DU BERLAIS passed the 'looks like one who could win a flat race' on paddock inspection. In a race run at steady pace until the home straight she showed far too much basic speed for the others.
OUR LAURA B is a robust filly who had shown promise at Sedgefield. She kept on encouragingly for second and will be one to benefit from obstacles as she has the look of a chaser and presuambly has a bit more physical development to come.
TAMLAGHT EYES led a steady pace but was readily outpaced by the first two once the tempo increased.
