14:25 Kelso

Saturday 27 October 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

Clifford & Martin Firth Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 55.30s

Bafana Blue^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 102

5/2

Has won two of these events at Hexham this season, the latest a 3L success earlier this month (3m, good), when 3lb lower. Inconsistent but if he can back up that run with a similar effort he should be thereabouts.

Form: 9-81641

Arizona Bound^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 98

4/1

Came good on his sixth start for this trainer at Perth (3m, good) in August, when 5lb lower. 3lb better off with Bafana Blue for a 3L defeat by him at Hexham last time. Also inconsistent, but if producing similar he can go close.

Form: 9631P2

Bocasien Desbois^p1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 93

7/1

Won a Market Rasen novices' handicap chase (2m5½f, good to soft) in March when 3lb lower. Ran well enough over that trip here last time. Should come on for that and is interesting upped in trip on his second start after wind surgery. Cheekpieces on.

Form: 61-2UP3

Lady London^p⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Dobbin| OR: 87

6/1

3m hurdle winner who improved on her chase debut when ½L second at Perth last month from a 3lb lower mark. Could still be a bit more to come over fences, so not ruled out.

Form: 055542

King Golan^b,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 85| C

6/1

Off the mark under rules at the 20th attempt when making all for a 14L win here (2m5½f, good) last time. Up 7lb for that, which leaves him looking well in if taken literally. Hard to know what will come next, but decent claims if he can repeat it.

Form: 735441

St Quintin⁵⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 77

13/2

0-13 and has been difficult to get to the racecourse in the past two years. Makes debut for a trainer among the winners, so a market check looks prudent.

Form: PPP0P6/

What A Game^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 76

9/1

Goes best at Cartmel, where he has recorded both his wins over hurdles at 2m6f (inc. on good). Yet to set the world alight over fences, however, and hard to fancy.

Form: 6/P12-98

Top Cat Dj^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 68

50/1

0-27 over fences and readily passed over.

Form: 045-8U4

Non-Runners

Graystown¹⁷¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: W Coltherd J: Sam Coltherd

Left Back¹⁸²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: N W Alexander J: Lucy Alexander

Forecasts

Bafana Blue (5/2), Arizona Bound (4/1), King Golan (6/1), Lady London (6/1), St Quintin (13/2), Bocasien Desbois (7/1), What A Game (9/1), Graystown (12/1), Left Back (16/1), Top Cat Dj (50/1)

A tough race to call, given the inconsistency of last-time winner Bafana Blue and his reopposing rival Arizona Bound. If both run the similar levels of form to their latest start then they should be thereabouts again. Then there is KING GOLAN, who routed his field here last time by a wide margin. That performance also came from left field, but he had so much to spare that he is trusted to come up with something similar from 7lb higher and may therefore be well in. Lady London and chase newcomer Graystown are also both of interest.