12:50 Kelso

Saturday 11 November 2017

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Morrison Construction Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 4m 16.4s

Betancourt³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Ewart| OR: 100| BF

5/1

Landed a Sedgefield handicap hurdle (2m4f, good) last month. Ran well for a long way over 2m5f here next time under a 7lb penalty, though ultimately beaten 14½L. Drop in trip/chase debut/1lb rise now, but another good effort not ruled out.

Form: 80/5-516

Blakerigg⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 100

15/2

Best effort so far was on his debut in a Newcastle bumper last year. Not shown a huge amount over hurdles at 2m-2m6½f, but could now do better chasing from a mark that looks reasonable on his best form. Market check advised.

Form: 2/5P-7

Petapenko⁵⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 100| D

10/3

Won a Sedgefield bumper for Malcolm Jefferson and ran well over hurdles (2m, good) on his first run for Donald McCain. Off since well beaten at Cartmel 17 months ago and resumes for chase/stable debut dropped in trip. Market check advised.

Form: 1530/44-

Misfits^t²³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 97

11/2

0-14 so far, though has made the frame in two of his four chases, including over C&D (good to soft) around a year ago. Looks nicely treated on that form, but has a bit to prove based on his two runs this year and after an eight-month break.

Form: 2U3545-

Leading Score^b⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 95

15/2

19-race maiden who has been placed in all five of his chases. Consistent level of form shown in those races, though he has never threatened to win one. 2lb drop may help a little, though not sure drop to this trip will.

Form: 2-23336

Oh So Gigolo^p⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Robert Hogg⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenneth Slack| OR: 84

10/1

Won a Cartmel novices' handicap (2m6f, good) over hurdles in July from 7lb lower, but well held from higher marks since. Not sure this drop in trip is ideal for his chasing debut and he is probably one to watch this time.

Form: 2-60170

Oak Vintage²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 79

4/1

Sedgefield novices' hurdle winner (2m4f, soft) who never came close to winning a handicap over either hurdles or fences until dropped to a mark of 78 and was a short head second at Hexham (1m7½f, heavy) last time. 1lb higher today and not ruled out.

Form: 4P575-2

Here Comes Love^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 78

40/1

Has made the frame just once over hurdles from 17 starts under rules. Best chase effort was on debut at Perth (2m, good to soft) in August, but still well held there and all starts since. Impossible to recommend until we have seen more from him.

Form: 74V445

Toola Boola¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 77| BF| D

25/1

It's over two years since she won a Sedgefield novices' hurdle (2m1f, soft) for George Moore and her subsequent form under both codes suggests that from this mark she has, at best, a chance of making the frame on her chase debut.

Form: 81/8244-

Mr Witmore^b¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: K Yeoman⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 70

40/1

Made the frame in a Hexham chase (2m4f, good) in May from 7lb higher, but has not recaptured that form since until switched back to hurdles here last time. A repeat effort over fences is not ruled out, but 4lb 'wrong' here and others preferred.

Form: 36F887

Forecasts

Petapenko (10/3), Oak Vintage (4/1), Betancourt (5/1), Misfits (11/2), Leading Score (15/2), Blakerigg (15/2), Oh So Gigolo (10/1), Toola Boola (25/1), Mr Witmore (40/1), Here Comes Love (40/1)

Although BETANCOURT drops back in trip here he may still have enough toe to win this on his chasing debut. Blakerigg is a potential improver now that he tackles fences, while Petapenko is an interesting contender now going chasing after a lengthy absence and a market check looks prudent. Misfits and Oak Vintage are others to consider.