Kelso Spring seasons ends

Wednesday May 19th

A double header on the northern jump circuit with Kelso’s spring finale leading the way and Sedgefield filling the evening slot. With very little rain about the fast ground form should be of use for the coming weeks…., cue three works worth of downpours!

KELSO

Going – Good to Firm(Good in places)

2.10 2m 2f 0-115 Handicap Hurdle

This race was set up for BENMADIGAN, held up off a decent pace and picking his field off once turned for home. His jockey was hard at work approaching the last, but the Nicky Richards trained gelding responded when driven out on the run-in. He needs the right sort of ‘race shape’ but on his day he’s decent at this level.
SMARTIES PARTY took up the running two out and kept on once passed. This was a good deal better than her recent efforts.
MARDOOD is probably on his mark now but ran respectably in filling third place.
NELSON DU RONCERAY was held up but couldn’t get to the leaders as the winner did while LEITH WALK was caught flat footed three out and didn’t get nay closer.
Well backed SAUJANA ran as her form suggested, receiving reminders from an early stage and never in the race.
WITNESS RUN has been in poor form over fences, but showed just a hint of a revival here from well out of the handicap. He led approaching three out but found things too tough after the turn for home. Aimed at the lowest level of handicap Alistair Whillans might coax at least a place out of this one.

2.45 3m 1f Class 4 Novices’ Chase

DIAVOLERIA took advantage of mishaps which happened to her two main rivals, seeing off a determined runner-up in the final furlong. It’s difficult to know what value to put on this form, but she idled a little in front.
For a 12-year-old running only her second chase RIVER ALDER did connections proud. She just lacked the pace of the winner from the elbow.
QUICK WILL was in the lead and going well enough when falling four out.
MR WOODS’ tendency to jump right didn’t help him and, though he has plenty of ability, might stop him reaching full potential without correction. He hit the eleventh and jettisoned his rider.
WARNELL VIEW jumped slowly in the rear and gives no hint of being a racehorse.

3.29 2m 1f 0-115 Handicap Chase

A small field and the chance to dictate was a perfect recipe for front running CARRIETAU. Jumping accurately as ever he led all the way and had plenty in hand from the last. He does need things his own way, and will now be forced into a tougher class, but in a small field he’s a solid investment.
DUKE OF MALFI never got to the front and was outpaced early on. He stayed on from second and remains in fair heart, but he’s another who arguably needs things his own way.
JIM TANGO raced in second to the last but was then well outpointed.
WELL OILED, coming off a break, was left behind from two out.

3.55 2m 6 ½ f 0-128 Handicap Hurdle

This was a competitive event with a few progressive types present.
Liz Harrison’s stable remain on fire, surely a good pointer with the short trip to Cartmel available soon. SOLWAY BAY recorded a second win on the trot, progressing under pressure approaching the last, leading a furlong out and pulling clear. With a hurdle and a chase win behind him there should be a few options.
COASTLEY stayed on for second, running another gallant race and he has proved a revelation since moving from the pointing/hunter chase sphere. He was running off a 14lbs higher mark than his last run.
LAWGIVER’s rider was hard at work approaching three out, but his mount responded well enough to hold third in the run to the line.
HUMBIE led to the last but dropped away quickly once headed while McMURROUGH had two ways of running and never looked completely at ease on this occasion. He faded from contention approaching the last.

4.30 2m 2f Class 4 Novices’ Hurdle

BALNAGORE progressed from his first effort, niggled along to two out but conjuring enough to see off a runner-up who is in good heart. The bear form here is nothing to shout about, but he should progress with experience.
SOLIS, previously less than reliable, is in decent nick and frame of mind right now, making the winner pull out the stops.
CHOCTAW NATION made headway approaching the last and finished with a rattle.
WALDVOGEL led approaching the last but folded on the run-in and the impression was that more was expected.

5.05 3m 1f Hunters’ Chase

A decent hunter chase but the favourite ELIZA DOALOTT, successful in three completed hunter starts, fell at the sixth fence.
The favourite’s veteran stable mate MOMENT OF MADNESS proved an able substitute, disputing the running all the way, kicking on going to the last and showing good determination on the flat.
Another in the twilight years of his career, ANSHAN SPIRIT goes well round here and made up for a disappointing Hexham effort, staying on and making the winner work hard.
FLOREANA and AREYACODDINME, both outpaced going to three out, finished with a rattle for the places.
ARDNACLANCY chased the leaders and kept on, not beaten more than 5 lengths in fifth. He ahs won plenty of points and the impression is that he’s best ‘bullying’ inferiors.
SILVER SEDGE chased the leader to the last but could make no impression on the flat.
DAVY BOY LEGEND looked to be struggling in rear for much of the way, but he picked his way through tired rivals in the straight.
BENBEOCH found the competition too tough here and weakened from two out.
Plenty capable at this level on his day, he does seem to need things to go for him.
DIX VILLEZ generally shows up well but finishes weakly and was another find the competition too much. The impression is that a slog would suit.
SILVER PALOMINO isn’t good enough at this level and finished tailed off.
ALMOST BLUE was another tailed off and has shown very little under Rules this year.
DORIS’S GIFT is at best as lowly handicapper. He had no chance at this level and unseated at the ninth.

5.40 2m ½ f NH Flat

FREDDIE BROWN was signalled by your correspondent following paddock inspection last time out. George Charlton’s decent bumper horses invariably progress when sent jumping, and the Northumberland trainer has a very exciting prospect on his hands. He was still a bit keen, but galloped into the lead inside the final two furlongs and stayed on relentlessly.
Regular readers will know how I rattle on about the quality of Kelso bumpers. PASTURE BAY is another who will surely turn into a jumping winner. From the family of Silver Birch, he progressed two furlongs out and stayed on after the winner.
MR JAY DEE has run three decent races and kept on for third if held once the winner passed.
THURNHAM is a first foal of a bumper winner, but looks capable of making a mark of behalf of his dam. The leaders got away from him two out but he kept on well enough. A similar comment could be applied to the fifth ORRALOON another doing his best work from two furlongs out.


SEDGEFIELD

Going – Good to Firm (Good in places)

7.00 2m 4f Class 4 Maiden Chase

The last fence was omitted following a fall on the first circuit.
Never in the race on previous outings, BIG BURROWS found this small field to his liking. He took over going well three out (two out here) and wasn’t in much trouble from that point. I’d still be a bit wary in a more ‘hustle bustle’ type of contest, though he clearly has ability.
DONTPAYTHEFERRYMAN kept on in his customary fashion without seriously threatening the winner. He jumps well enough and will win a chase or two through stickability.
BUGSY’S BOY was close up to three out, but under pressure into the straight and made no impression.
PSEIDON was in trouble four out having raced in the rear all the way and was passed by THE GLOVES ARE OFF late on, the latter having been well detached from past halfway.
STILL AT LUNCH was presumably capable of winning chases but sadly suffered a fatal injury when falling at the eighth.

8.00 2m 4f 0-100 Handicap Chase

Locally trained PERSIAN PRINCE went well at the head of affairs and and was left to win comfortably when WINGED FARASI departed at the last, holding I’M YOUR MAN who, as a few times before, was held for pace in the latter stages. WINGED FARASI ran a fair race but like most of these he’s no great shakes.
HIGH STAND LAD was outpaced form the three out and never seriously threatened.
STAR TENOR was under the shove three out and weakened, unable to repeat Bangor form.
NAVAL ATTACHE was beaten from the tenth finishing in front of LETHAM ISLAND who was remote from a mile out.
GINGER’S LAD fell at the twelfth, while SOLWAY BLUE was struggling in rear when unseating a fence earlier.

8.30 2m ½ f 0-92 Handicap Chase

SCHINKEN OTTO has won for a long while, but he goes well when the ground is fast and was good enough in a very moderate contest, leading two out and staying on.
MY CONDOR led to two out but was not progressing when falling at the last.
TRRODOS JET is consistent in similar contests and ran respectably to fill second. He’s always one to consider in 0-95 and lower class, but he’s vulnerable to anything with any zip.
JANAL and CROFTON ARCH are exposed as slow and the fact that they filled third and fourth sums the contest up.
MISCHIEF MAN was held from two out, as was STOLEN LIGHT who has shown little in recent times.
CLUELESS got round here after two pulled ups, but his form is uninspiring.
MEZUZAH, unreliable previously on the flat and over hurdles showed no signs that chasing is his forte and was last of those to finish, the 56 rated BALLYBOE BOY pulled up before the last and a forlorn hope.

The hurdles threw up very little to go forward with though the selling handicap hurdle winner AUTHENTIC ART might prove a bit better than his lowly rating. The opening novice was won by the quirky BARRON WATLASS, though he was given a good ride and those close up, HEART OF DUBAI and BARREL OF FUN possess some ability. PUGNACITY won a closing handicap full of exposed types.