12:40 Kelso

Sunday 14 January 2018

All12:4013:1013:4014:1514:4515:1515:45

Persimmon Homes EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 46.6s

Coole Hall⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 135| C

4/9

Continues to make progress and stayed on well to win over a similar trip at Newcastle last time in a decent contest. That form has substance and he looks to have decent claims of defying 10lb penalty.

Form: 3/12-121

Behindthelines^t1⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

8/1

Form of his 2L second in Irish point-to-point has received a boost. Related to winners at 2m4f/2m5f, so trip not a concern and it will be interesting to see what the market makes of his chance on debut.

Form: P-2

Call Me⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile

50/1

Won an Irish point-to-point at the fifth attempt on fast ground last May. 100-1, soon beaten and tailed off over C&D on hurdles debut in November and looks one for a watching brief this time.

Form: PP43-15

Castle On A Cloud⁶⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: C Grant

40/1

Perhaps not the easiest to keep sound after a decent Irish point-to-point debut for Charlie Swan. Looks best watched until well being proven.

Form: 2UP/

Knockrobin⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr

5/2

Won a Punchestown point-to-point on debut last year and was bought for £22,000. Likeable pedigree and made a good debut when 6L fourth to a decent sort at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) last month. Looks a contender on that evidence.

Form: 1-4

Mick's Wish⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Tony Kelly| T: Mrs J Stephen

100/1

Showed a bit of promise when placed in two Irish point-to-points and ran okay in both bumpers, but 100-1 and last of seven here on debut in November and needs a lot of improvement on that to figure.

Form: 32-657

Outnumbered⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant

100/1

Well beaten on both starts so far, producing similar efforts at Wetherby (2m3½f) and Doncaster (2m5f). Watching brief advised based on those two performances and should be more interesting when he has a handicap mark.

Form: 77

Rising Marienbard^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

40/1

Won an Irish point-to-point on sole start in that sphere, though has been quiet in a bumper and two novices' hurdles (2m1f & 2m4½f) under rules. Pedigree all about stamina, so step up in trip positive and he could be more competitive.

Form: 106-0

Royal Summit²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A C Hamilton

100/1

Thrashed in both a bumper and a maiden hurdle so far and pulled up on heavy (2m) at Ayr last time. Looks one to consider more closely when he has a handicap mark, which should be after this run.

Form: 07P

Shepherd's Bight²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson

16/1

A second representative for his stable here and looks the second string on jockey bookings. Made frame for George Charlton at Carlisle (2m1f) in April. Pulled up after mistake at Ayr on stable debut last month (33-1) and perhaps one to watch.

Form: 03-6P

Non-Runners

Rowdy Robin²⁸⁷

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: J M Jefferson J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Coole Hall (4/9), Knockrobin (5/2), Behindthelines (8/1), Rowdy Robin (14/1), Shepherd's Bight (16/1), Rising Marienbard (40/1), Castle On A Cloud (40/1), Call Me (50/1), Outnumbered (100/1), Mick's Wish (100/1), Royal Summit (100/1)

On what the form book says, it is not easy to envisage too many of these being involved at the business end and, with respect to potential improver Knockrobin in receipt of 10lb, COOLE HALL looks to be the class act in this field and he may be capable of successfully conceding weight all round after his win last time was boosted. Behindthelines and Rowdy Robin are both worth market checks, while Rising Marienbard might get a bit closer to the action now stepped up to this trip.