15:15 Kelso

Sunday 14 January 2018

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

Celebrating Jimmy Logan's 100th Birthday Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 6m 7.70s

Call Me Vic²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: T R George| OR: 136| D

8/1

Won his bumper on soft ground, but all others wins have been on good at up to 3m. Sole handicap chase success came in this grade and from 2lb lower at Aintree (2m4f) last season. Has best chance since then on paper.

Form: F12-644

Silver Tassie^t1⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 130| D

10/1

Ended a drought last March when scoring at Ayr (3m½f, heavy) from 3lb lower, and ran with credit over 3m2f here from 3lb higher than today next time. Not in same form since, but tongue strap could help and interesting if supported.

Form: U13P-65

Chidswell²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 130

2/1

Sees out 2m4½f on heavy ground and ran well on only previous visit here. Had a decent pipe-opener at Newcastle last month and from the same mark he enters calculations. Dam won over 3m so step up in trip could elicit improvement.

Form: 21135-2

Lough Derg Jewel²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 129| CD

11/4

Won a maiden hurdle here over the equivalent trip (good to soft) and went close on only other visit. Returns seeking hat-trick after back-to-back Ayr successes (both 2m4½f, heavy). Up another 6lb for latest but still improving and has claims again.

Form: 4332-11

Bernardelli^b³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: N G Richards| OR: 128| C

7/1

Has a great record on soft/heavy ground and scored here over 2m5½f on the latter going last year, when 5lb higher. In the grip of the handicapper since then, but now on a handy mark and could see a revival if he can see out this trip.

Form: 13PP-44

Gold Opera^v¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 125

20/1

Yet to win beyond 2m4½f or away from either Ayr or Newcastle. Relishes soft/heavy ground and beaten just 1L from this mark at Ayr (3m½f) in November. Didn't stay 3m3½f last time but back over this trip he has claims.

Form: P311-4P

Ueueteotl^b⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Ewart| OR: 114| D

8/1

Most of his winning form has been on good ground and he has been unable to produce his best when it has been soft, so that has to be a big concern. Certainly capable from this mark and stays well, but conditions offputting.

Form: 8273-37

Bright Prospect⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 112

9/1

Runner-up from 1lb higher on his last two starts, both over this trip. Conditions have to be a concern for him, with all his better form being on better ground than this, but 5lb claim will help and not ruled out if he can act on soft.

Form: 24PP2-2

Forecasts

Chidswell (2/1), Lough Derg Jewel (11/4), Bernardelli (7/1), Ueueteotl (8/1), Call Me Vic (8/1), Bright Prospect (9/1), Silver Tassie (10/1), Gold Opera (20/1)

Call Me Vic gets this trip and acts with cut. He is very much respected given what looks his best chance for a while on paper, though preference is for the Nicky Richards-trained CHIDSWELL. The nine-year-old ran well on his reappearance and should be spot on for this, while the step up in trip could see him go up another gear. Silver Tassle would be interesting if backed given that he is on a competitive mark and sports a first-time tongue strap, while Gold Opera, Lough Derg Jewel and Bright Prospect are others with claims in a good contest.