15:10 Kelso

Wednesday 9 May 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:15

Belhaven Brewery Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 36.1s

Minstrel Royal^p1,t¹¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 112

10/1

His sole career success in 19 starts came over 2m3f at Warwick in April (for Nicky Henderson). Moderate at best since switched to this stable for £5,000, including when runner up in a 2m4f Leicester seller in December. Wears first time cheek-pieces.

Form: 377325-

Danceintothelight^t¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110

12/1

Winner of 10-119 starts. Grand servant to various connections over the years, striking up a positive relationship with this rider most latterly. Effective on good ground, but obvious stamina concerns over this longer trip.

Form: 446245-

Benny's Secret^h¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 110| C

6/1

Back from a break with a modest effort at Ayr last month (3m). However is a three-time winner from six starts at Kelso (2m2f-2m5f), and will relish the ground conditions. 6lb above his last winning mark (November 2017).

Form: 11-5500

No Such Number^p,t¹⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 106

33/1

Rattled off a four-timer over fences on decent ground last summer, but absent since lining up at Musselburgh in November. Not run over hurdles since November 2015, but has risen 15lb in the weights owing to his chasing gains.

Form: 116433-

Shepherd's Bight¹¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 105

6/1

Well beaten, but made frame for George Charlton at Carlisle (2m1f) in April 2017. Not shown much in a couple of runs for the Jefferson's, but is open to minor improvement now sent handicapping.

Form: 03/6P-55

Champagne To Go¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 105

11/1

Runner up for Kim Bailey at Newton Abbot in October 2017 (2m5f good), she moved on cheaply for just £1,000 in January. Back to form on her second start for this trainer at Hexham latest (2m4f soft), and this is a more realistic assignment.

Form: 3/2PPP2-

Graystown²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 105

8/1

A nine race maiden who is slowly slipping down the handicap. Showed up better latest when beaten 8L by the sadly ill-fated Skywards Reward at Carlisle (2m1f soft), but tries a different trip and ground today.

Form: 66PP33

Christmas Twenty⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

11/2

Had a few near misses, and is plausibly handicapped off a mark of 100, but his career record of 0 from 20 doesn't inspire confidence. Trip/track fine, but quick ground possibly not so.

Form: 5PF3P5-

Witness⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 97

5/2

Won over both hurdles and fences on a sound surface in France. Landed a minor touch when scoring for the first time on these shores at Wetherby in March (3m soft), but hit with a 10lb rise in the weights as a result.

Form: 4/63461-

Chocolat Noir^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 94

14/1

A nine race maiden on the Flat, and win-less in five attempts over hurdles so far. However, hasn't masses of experience in handicap company, and worth a try over this trip.

Form: 54876-

Non-Runners

Elmono¹⁴

Weight: 11-11| Age: 7

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: D R Fox

Forecasts

Witness (5/2), Christmas Twenty (11/2), Shepherd's Bight (6/1), Benny's Secret (6/1), Elmono (7/1), Graystown (8/1), Minstrel Royal (10/1), Champagne To Go (11/1), Danceintothelight (12/1), Chocolat Noir (14/1), No Such Number (33/1)

Becky Smith has been knocking in plenty of winners recently, and she renews her partnership with WITNESS in this stayers event. The pair linked up for an emphatic victory at Wetherby in March (3m), beating Border Victor by a fast extending 4L. Hit with a subsequent 10lb rise in the weights, life will be tougher moving forward, but with winning form on a sound surface in France, further success must be considered highly likely. Benny's Secret loves Kelso and should have conditions to suit, but the concession of well over a stone (with riding allowances) to the selection appears too much.