13:15 Kelso

Thursday 25 January 2018

All12:4513:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

Isle Of Skye Blended Scotch Whisky Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 7m 4.2s

Seldom Inn^b1²³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-5| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 132| C

3/1

Boasts a stellar career record at this track (1,2,1,1,2), albeit with the bulk of those more recent gains coming over fences. Beaten 20L by Elusive Theatre at Ayr (2m5f hurdle) latest, and is eased 1lb, with the blinkers now applied.

Form: F12P-53

Catchamat¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss C Walton⁽³⁾| T: J Walton| OR: 125| D

25/1

Mare who looked the part as a novice over staying trips at Newcastle (two time winner). Well suited by cut, but her forays into handicap company this season (off a break) haven't went all that well, and she's eased 4lb today.

Form: P511-50

Total Assets⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 119| CD

4/1

Well suited to racing at this track, with her last three attempts over this C&D being winning ones (two chases and a hurdle). 10lb above her last winning mark over hurdles (Carlisle, April 2017) and that's a barrier to further C&D success.

Form: 3112-25

Rowdy Rocher^p¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 118| C

12/1

Mud-lark who recorded back-to-back Ayr successes during this month in 2017 (3m chase, 2m5f+ hurdle), but has struggled since, including in a couple of starts this term. Slipping back in the weights, so that's a help for this veteran campaigner.

Form: 1156-9P

Landecker⁵³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 115| CD

11/2

Loves it here with all four of his wins coming at this venue over hurdles, and over a variety of trips. Beaten 13L by Tawseef when a runner up over C&D in November, and now 3lb lower after a tame effort next time.

Form: 5-24726

Scotswell⁷⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 114| CD

8/1

A front running warrior over many years who had his biggest day in the 2015 North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick. Another who adores this track, with his latest chasing success coming in April (C&D, good). No hurdles success since 2012.

Form: F5381-7

Sevenballs Of Fire²⁹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 114| D

5/1

Posted some reasonable enough chasing form over marathon trips. Off since April when a distant third to Purple Harry (2m7f+ soft, Kelso), and has left the care of Iain Jardine for £5,800 in the interim. Starts off for a new yard back over hurdles.

Form: 452F33-

Native Optimist⁵³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Walton| OR: 113

5/1

Goes best at Hexham with four of his six career victories coming at the demanding Northumberland venue. Ground conditions aren't a concern, but he's edging up the weights after a solid Carlisle second to Ebony Rose in early December (3m+).

Form: 082172

Forecasts

Seldom Inn (3/1), Total Assets (4/1), Sevenballs Of Fire (5/1), Native Optimist (5/1), Landecker (11/2), Scotswell (8/1), Rowdy Rocher (12/1), Catchamat (25/1)

A race which will warm the hearts of the Kelso regulars, with a number of admirable course specialists in the line up. However, finding the winner isn't the easiest of assignments with a pickle of both hurdling and chasing form to negotiate. Seldom Inn heads the weights, and with the blinkers applied seeks to further enhance a stunning course record, but his veteran stablemate ROWDY ROCHER could be worth chancing at decent odds. His recent form isn't overly encouraging, and there is the possibility that he's no longer able to compete at this level given his advancing years, but on the plus side, his handicap mark is now workable, and his last three successes have come during the month of January. Proven at this track, he'll relish the underfoot conditions. Catchamat is another runner of a similar ilk, if you prefer to take a chance at small stakes on a younger rival.