14:10 Kelso
Monday 3 April 2017
All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40
Our Friends From Yorkshire 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 2f 25y | Soft | 9 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 45.90s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Twice raced, but not fluent on his January hurdles debut at Ayr (2m heavy) when ninth of ten to runaway winner Fairlee Grey. Up 2F in trip for a stable that are now in better form with improvement anticipated.
Former French racer (mixed hurdles with chasing), but has arguably regressed during five spins over hurdles with this trainer (over a variety of trips). Let down by his jumping the past twice, with a few questions to be answered around this sharp circuit.
Keen on his recent hurdles debut at Newcastle (2m novices, heavy), he stumbled and unseated his rider at the fifth, and needs to improve even at this level to take a hand on the strength of two last placed finishes in bumpers at Kelso and Ayr prior to that.
Has shown a limited level of form in Irish Point-to-Points, but was a relatively inexpensive €5,500 three-year-old, and makes his rules debut in the tongue-strap for a well respected trainer.
Has shown very little in three starts over hurdles since January, regularly racing towards the rear and struggling throughout. No reason to expect better today.
Stablemate of Christmas in USA, and this will be her first race away from Ayr. Never on terms on her bumper debut in March, she's fared little better in a pair of soft and heavy ground hurdles starts since, and looks likely to be waiting for low grade handicaps to be seen in a better light.
2m4f Pyle Point-to-Point winner for Robert Luke in April 2015, she made a reasonable enough first start under rules in a 2m novices hurdle at Newcastle (heavy) which was won by Reverant Cust (ran well in a decent handicap since). She should benefit for that run, her first in two years, and this is a winnable contest.
Cost £26,000 in May 2016, after a solid runners up effort in a decent Down Royal bumper, and her Hexham form from December (fourth to the progressive Lastbutnotleast) is good enough at this level. However, she fell at the third on her most recent Hexham start (4/6f), so needs to show no ill effects.
Finished just under 4L fourth to the heavily backed Better Getalong in a 2m bumper here on debut in March. Makes her hurdles debut for a stable in fine form (Market Rasen, Hexham and Newcastle winners last week), and this looks a very reasonable contest in which to start off.
Forecasts
Midnite Grace (6/4), Sunset Marquis (15/8), The Delray Munky (6/1), Christmas In Usa (9/1), Jardin Des Plantes (16/1), Ceegem (22/1), Just Brooke (33/1), Ruby Who (50/1), Here Comes Hovis (200/1)
A weak and winnable maiden hurdle in which only a small number are of interest. Midnite Grace should be fitter for her Newcastle return, and her conqueror Reverant Cust has run with credit in a decent handicap hurdle since. The Delray Munky has to be considered on her hurdles debut with her trainer in flying form, whilst any runners from the Donald McCain and Lucinda Russell stables should be noted in such a lowly grade. However, SUNSET MARQUIS is the pick on her Hexham form from December, and with plenty of cut still around, she can be taken to put a more recent Hexham spill behind her and get off the mark over hurdles.
- Sunset Marquis
- Midnite Grace
- The Delray Munky
Prize Money
1st: £3,249.002nd: £954.003rd: £477.004th: £238.00
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