Katie Midwinter (03/03/23)
KELSO
1:15pm – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
Top-weight Sholokjack beat 127-rated Enzo D’Airy, who had 3lbs claimer Shane Quinlan onboard, when last seen at Lingfield and has since been given a 11lbs rise by the handicapper.
The progressive horse has been in good form but with such a hefty weight to carry in a bigger field with the yard struggling for form in recent weeks, he may be best watched for now.
A nine-length second to Galia Des Liteaux at Bangor-On-Dee earlier in the season has proved to be a good formline for Miah Grace, as the winning mare at the North Wales track has since beaten the boys to record a Grade Two success.
She won on her reappearance at Newcastle before disappointing when beaten favourite last time out. Softer conditions suit her better and whilst she is capable of showing improvement on her fourth start over fences, she is quite unreliable and doesn’t appear to be well-handicapped.
Castle Rushen showed promise as a novice but has failed to complete twice following a lengthy layoff, and has a tendency to make race-ending mistakes. A mark of 130 allows him to be dangerous if he jumps fluently and he could be a dark horse in this field.
Hat-trick bidding Bill Baxter had been travelling well when taking a nasty fall at Hereford a month ago, running off a career high mark of 128, up 8lbs for his previous win. He remains off the same mark here and has claims once again, showing plenty of potential for an in-form Warren Greatrex yard.
Win selection:
Bill Baxter 4/1 – Warren Greatrex, Sean Bowen
1:50pm – Morebattle Hurdle (Class 2)
Top-rated Colonel Mustard has 3lbs claimer Kieren Buckley onboard to enhance his claims in what is set to be a tough task at the weights for the Lorna Fowler-trained gelding. If he is able to replicate his third-place finish in last year’s County Hurdle he is in with a chance, but there could be other better handicapped contenders in the field.
Emmet Mullins’ Mctigue, in the familiar colours of Paul Byrne, will have caught the eye of many a shrewd punter ahead of racing on Saturday.
The owner and trainer partnership struck gold in the race with The Shunter two years ago, and look set to repeat the feat with their gelding, who would become the first four-year-old to win the race if he is victorious. He is rated 142 but with the 10lbs weight-for-age allowance is ultimately running off a mark of 132 which makes him a very intriguing contender.
Teddy Blue is a promising young horse and is capable of showing plenty of progression for the Gary Moore yard. He was third in a Grade Three handicap contest when last seen following a maiden win at Lingfield. The trip as well as conditions will suit the son of Sea The Moon and 5lbs claimer Caoilin Quinn gives him an easier assignment at the weights.
Last year’s winner Cormier runs off a 2lbs higher mark this time around for trainer Brian Ellison and will need to show significant improvement on his recent runs.
Nayati runs off a mark of 135 once again but has 5lbs claimer Peter Kavanagh onboard to reduce his burden. That could bring him into contention as he is a talented individual who has recorded three wins already this season since returning from a lengthy lay-off.
However, he would likely prefer a softer surface than is expected at Kelso and may struggle to run to the best of his ability on ground described as good to soft. He was well beaten by stablemate Collingham when the pair last met, but had previously finished ahead of him at Musselburgh. Donald McCain saddles both horses in this contest, with Collingham once again partnered by 10lbs claimer Charlie Maggs.
Win selection:
Colonel Mustard 7/1 – Mrs Lorna Fowler, Kieren Buckley (3)
Each-way selection:
Nayati 20/1 – Donald McCain, Peter Kavanagh (5)
2:25pm – Premier Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Feronily could make it a quick double on the card for the trio of Mullins, Byrne and jockey Donagh Meyler. The six-year-old gelding makes his debut over hurdles on his third start under rules, and is firmly at the head of the market to land a Grade Two success.
Third in a NH Flat Race at this level, when seen at Leopardstown last month, his form doesn’t appear to warrant favouritism and the clear market support he is receiving. However, he could be electric at home and is hugely unexposed, making him an interesting contender and dangerous to the rest of the field.
Nemean Lion and Colonel Harry finished third and fourth respectively in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle in January, with two-and-a-half-lengths separating them.
The former, trained by Kerry Lee, was previously based at Andre Fabre’s running in the Godolphin blue silks, and finished second in a Group Two on his last outing in France before being gelded. He has shown promise so far as a hurdler and, with a classy pedigree, is capable of putting in good performance once again.
Jamie Snowden’s aforementioned Colonel Harry won on his last start in a lower class race at Newcastle. Both of his wins under rules have come on softer ground but, with the yard currently performing at a 38% strike rate, he is one to consider for the places as a tough horse who can be competitive if settling well early on.
Nine-year-old Accidental Rebel finally made it to the winners’ enclosure on his twelfth start over hurdles on debut for the Fergal O’Brien yard at Ludlow last May. He has to give 5lbs to his younger rivals but has demanded respect for a Grade Two success over Outlaw Peter, who has since won, when last seen at Chepstow.
Grade Two bumper winner Lookaway is yet to fire over obstacles for Neil King and will need to show improvement to be competitive, whilst outsider of the field, Irish-raider Banjaxed, is another who remains a maiden hurdler.
The Wounded Knee was less than impressive in the Grade Two River Don Novices’ Hurdle won by Maximilian at Doncaster in January, when last of the finishers, tailed off on debut for Patrick Neville. He had shown promise and consistency in prior runs for Ann Duffield and is worthy of another chance at Graded level.
NEWBURY
1:40pm – Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Cloth Cap 9/2 – Jonjo O’Neill, Jonjo O’Neill Jr
Things haven’t gone to plan for Jonjo O’Neill’s star stayer Cloth Cap since his Grand National attempt in 2021. He now runs off a mark of 135 which gives him a great opportunity to return to the winners’ enclosure in this contest for veterans.
2:45pm – Greatwood Gold Cup Chase (Grade 3 – Premier Handicap)
Paint The Dream 5/2 – Fergal O’Brien, Connor Brace
An extremely likeable gelding for Fergal O’Brien who has already successfully carried 12st to victory in a handicap over course and distance this season. He ran well for a long way in the Silviniaco Conti Chase when last seen, but perhaps isn’t quite good enough to win at that level against classy opponents. A Grade Three winner at the track, he always puts in a gallant effort and is worth keeping onside.
5:10pm – Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 4)
Seeyouinmydreams 11/8 – Paul Nicholls, Harry Cobden
The five-year-old mare is an interesting Point-To-Point recruit for Paul Nicholls running for familiar, successful owners and has had wind surgery prior to her debut for the yard. She was an expensive 235,000g purchase for connections and is likely to be one to watch next season when she goes hurdling.
DONCASTER
3:15pm – Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Cooper’s Cross is worthy of being favourite as an exceptionally consistent horse for in-form trainer Stuart Coltherd, who is currently performing at a 43% win-rate. He has been gradually rising in the weights and now runs off a career high mark of 133. Undersupervision is back on his last winning mark of 132 but has failed to complete in his last two runs and may be best watched for now.
Sporting John runs for the second time following wind surgery sporting first-time blinkers but has only one success in six runs over fences and isn’t the most natural chaser.
Castle Robin is 4lbs higher for his win over Laskalin at Sandown, now rated 138. The Charlie Longsdon representative is one to consider and could pose a threat if able to perform off this high mark.
The vote goes to top-weight Does He Know who, similarly to Paint The Dream at Newbury, has already carried 12st to victory in a handicap this season and is a brave horse worth sticking with.
His third in the Denman Chase last month when giving 4lbs to the first two home was a good effort, and perhaps with a cleaner passage around he would have been closer to the runner-up Hitman and may even have finished second. He drops down in class and should be strong enough to mount a challenge, especially with conditions in his favour.
Does He Know 3/1 – Kim Bailey, David Bass
THE CONDITIONAL 