15:35 Kelso

Thursday 15 February 2018

All13:2513:5514:2515:0015:3516:0516:40

Brewin Dolphin Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 6m 12.48s

Aengus^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 123

15/2

Made the most of a falling mark when doubling up at Wetherby (2m3f+) and Catterick (3m1f+) around this time last year. Held since off higher marks, but shaped with encouragement when a never nearer 3½L third to Too Many Chiefs at Ayr (3m) latest.

Form: 113-783

Bruichladdich²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: I Jardine| OR: 120

11/4

Thrashed by a resurgent Donna Diamond on barely raceable ground at Haydock last month (2m7f), but he's performed solidly overall since sent handicapping. Others make more appeal from their current handicap marks, but he'll plough through the mud.

Form: 7541-22

Landecker²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 120| CD

8/1

Absolutely adores this track with all five career success coming at Kelso over a variety of trips. Up 5lb since handing out a 1¼L beating of Seldom Inn over 3m2f last month, and you'd be a fool to dismiss him lightly.

Form: 247261

Ryedale Racer⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 120

10/1

Hasn't won quite as many races as he should've done, and he's never scored beyond 2m4f. Heavy ground isn't a concern, but he's probably sharpest at Hexham, and is high enough in the weights.

Form: 5344-24

Total Assets²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁷⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 119| CD

9/1

Well suited to racing at this track especially over this trip. 10lb above her last winning mark over hurdles (Carlisle, April 2017) and that's a barrier to further success as she demonstrated when finishing just over 5L third to Landecker latest.

Form: 112-253

Mac N Cheese³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 117| BF

3/1

Had a few problems in the past, but has stood plenty of racing since ploughing through the mud to score at Perth in September (3m). Endured a frustrating, brief spell over fences but more competitive back over hurdles; admittedly from a stiff mark.

Form: 61/13F6

Rowdy Rocher^p²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 115| CD

15/2

Mud-lark who recorded back-to-back Ayr successes in January 2017 (3m chase, 2m5f+ hurdle), but has struggled since, including in a trio of starts this term, with work to be done to reverse placings with Landecker despite the better terms.

Form: 156-9P4

Another Mattie^p,t³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 110| CD

25/1

Ayr regular who was denied an opportunity to race there on Tuesday (abandoned). Proven on testing ground, and 3lb lower than when scoring over 3m at Ayr in March (heavy), but has a very modest effort latest to overcome.

Form: 16-P4P7

Outnumbered³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 110

18/1

Started at sizeable odds in three tries in novice company (2m3f+ to 2m6f+). Not entirely disgraced on his most recent start over C&D, and should do better in handicaps (debut), but this rates as a baptism of fire.

Form: 774

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 25p in the pound

Non-Runners

Planet Nine¹³

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: R Dobbin J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

Bruichladdich (11/4), Mac N Cheese (3/1), Planet Nine (4/1), Aengus (15/2), Rowdy Rocher (15/2), Landecker (8/1), Total Assets (9/1), Ryedale Racer (10/1), Outnumbered (18/1), Another Mattie (25/1)

A cracking little handicap hurdle for the stayers, with Kelso form plentiful with the likes of Landecker and Total Assets standing dishes on the Borders menu. The first named got the better of the latter (& Rowdy Rocher) when scoring decisively over an extended 3m1f here last month. A subsequent 5lb rise in the weights isn't a thorny issue, but the drop in trip isn't entirely helpful. PLANET NINE also takes a marginal drop in trip after making a most pleasing winning handicap debut at Catterick (3m1f), but being a youngster on an upward curve he makes significant appeal off a 7lb higher mark. Rose Dobbin has her string in excellent shape at present, knocking in the winners left, right and centre, so he's taken with confidence to follow up on ground which he handles well. Of the remainder, both Bruichladdich and Mac N Cheese will relish the underfoot conditions, but ideally need some respite from the iron-clad vice like grip of the handicapper.