17:00 Kelso

Sunday 27 May 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 6m 37.22s

Double Whammy^v¹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr B G Crawford⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 129| CD

5/4

Took the 3m2f handicap chase (Ayton Castle) on this card in 2017 by a driven out 3½L and returned at this level after a 12-month absence going down fighting to the admirable Creevytennant at Perth recently (3m good). Strong chance.

Form: 5657/1-2

Kilbree Kid^b,t¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr N George⁽³⁾| T: T R George| OR: 128

10/3

Finished third, but 7L behind Double Whammy at Perth recently (3m good), and like the runner up is fully entitled to progress for the run; his first since October 2017. Fine under these conditions, but no denying that Perth is his favoured manor.

Form: 6515P-3

Damiens Dilemma²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L Coltherd| OR: 87| D

25/1

Regular winner in point-to-points (6 from 18), and on the premises when falling three out at Mosshouses latest. Beaten 30L (third) by Young Hurricane in this contest in 2017. Stablemate of For Yes.

Form: U/378P-F

Express Du Berlais²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucy Horner| OR: 115

16/1

Not run under rules since April 2016 (for Dr Richard Newland) and generally regressive for previous trainer Laura Thomas. Back to form when winning on debut for this trainer in a weak race at Witton Castle (made all) earlier this month; 3m good/fm.

Form: P57PP-1

For Yes^t,v²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Kit Alexander| T: Mrs L Coltherd| OR: 91| D

12/1

Placed in both the Buccleuch Cup (Kelso) and the Heart Of All England (Hexham) in his last two starts, but consequently remains a maiden under rules and hasn't won a point-to-point for over 12 months (at Hexham). Stablemate of Damiens Dilemma.

Form: 35523-3

Molten Brown^p²¹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss C Dun⁽⁷⁾| T: Tony Hogarth| OR: 95| D

50/1

Veteran who was beaten out of sight by Cultram Abbey at Perth late last month (subsequently disqualified), but picked up a modest point at Mosshouses latest, beating today's rival Shantou Magic by 1L (3m good). Finished fifth in this race in 2017.

Form: 45PPD-1

Rock Me Zippo^t1²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucy Horner| OR: 86

66/1

Races in the first time tongue tie, and is a stablemate of Express Du Berlais. Hadn't shown much in the way of form in ten career starts (five under rules) prior to running out with the race at his mercy at Heslaker recently (3m good).

Form: U/PPP3-R

Shantou Magic²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr W B Ramsay⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 111| BF

16/1

With Charlie Longsdon under rules until late 2016 but has since been a regular on the Northern point scene for this owner/trainer combination; winning twice on soft ground at Friars Haugh (3m). Similar chance to Molten Brown on Mosshouses form.

Form: 2/11P2-2

Shimla Dawn³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss E Todd| T: Mrs C Drury| OR: 123| BF

10/3

Won twice under rules for Tim/Mark Walford (2m4f) and is 2 from 3 since switched to this trainer, with front running victories in 3m point-to-points at Cottenham and Charm Park. Not quite good enough in a Southwell Hunters' Chase latest (2m4f good).

Form: 23/6115-

Forecasts

Double Whammy (5/4), Kilbree Kid (10/3), Shimla Dawn (10/3), For Yes (12/1), Shantou Magic (16/1), Express Du Berlais (16/1), Damiens Dilemma (25/1), Molten Brown (50/1), Rock Me Zippo (66/1)

Although a number of these horses have been in fair form in point-to-points lately including the revitalised front running pair Shimla Dawn and Express Du Berlais, the race won by the admirable veteran Creevytennant at Perth 11 days ago is the most striking form-line available. Both runner up DOUBLE WHAMMY and the third Kilbree Kid can be expected to be much stronger for those fine comeback efforts, with the selection also a winner on this very day in 2017 in the feature Class 3 Ayton Castle Handicap Chase.