13:40 Kelso
Sunday 15 January 2017
All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40
EBF/TBA Mares' Novices' Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 7f 96y | Heavy (Soft in places) | 5 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 6m 40.14s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Unbeaten in sole start in a NHF race (on testing ground at Carlisle), and quickly sent hurdling thereafter putting this weeks North Yorkshire Grand National winner Straidnahanna to the sword over 3m at Ayr in March 2016. Fourth on chase debut over an inadequate 2m at Wexford in November, and fell at the first at Cork most recently. Questions to answer over fences, but this trip is certain to bring about improvement.
Successful in both starts over fences this winter over the space of three weeks at Wetherby in December. Debut success has been well advertised by runner up I Just Know at Doncaster this week, and this mare demonstrated gameness in spades in following up off 114. Raised a further 6lbs to 120, she's likely to make a bold bid to go three from three over fences.
PTP winner (this trip) who maybe didn't show her very best over hurdles despite winning on deep ground at Hexham in April 2016. A mark of 120 has looked beyond her on two starts in handicap hurdles, but this half sister to Go Conquer is bred for chasing and could do better on fencing debut.
A course winner over hurdles (2m4f) on her sixth career start on testing ground in December 2015, but only seventh of nine later that month in follow up bid and absent since. Chasing debut with a 12 month plus absence to overcome.
Successful just the once in ten starts over hurdles (over 2m4f on Soft ground in a novices handicap hurdle at Market Rasen in December 2015) but placed on multiple numerous starts. Has been sent chasing this winter after an eight month break, and placed on both starts at Market Rasen in reasonable contests. Scope for further improvement in this sphere.
Forecasts
Two Smokin Barrels (1/1), Conquer Gold (7/2), Billy Billy (5/1), Milly Baloo (5/1), La Dama De Hierro (20/1)
A field of five head to post, with perhaps only La Dama De Hierro ruled out with fitness concerns to address. Billy Billy was the best of these over hurdles, and this mark may prove to be a fair one if better suited by fencing at a steadier pace in this much longer race than her debut over fences at Wexford. Conquer Gold has the potential to be a better chaser than a hurdler, whilst Milly Baloo hasn't been disgraced in either of her starts over fences without shaping like a certain future winner. TWO SMOKING BARRELS is given the nod to remain unbeaten over fences and defy a 6lb rise, on the back of the success of I Just Know at Doncaster on Monday. The Michael Scudamore trained mare beat that rival on her chasing debut and that form looks rock solid now.
1. Two Smokin Barrels
2. Billy Billy
3. Milly Baloo
Prize Money
1st: £6,498.002nd: £1,908.003rd: £954.004th: £477.00
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