Leuchie House Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 0.90s

Island Heights⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 119| CD

7/2

Lightly-raced in 2018, and his moderate run at Cartmel (3m1f+) can probably be excused; has won over fences here, so the combination of a reduced mark and trip on quick ground at a sharp track should make him far more competitive.

Form: 666/4-24

Letemgo²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 115| D

25/1

Placed off a 2lb higher mark at Ayr in April (3m, good), but has done the vast majority of his winning on softer ground; a recent run at Cheltenham (100/1) should bring him forward, but will it be enough?

Form: 1UP34-0

David John¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: J K Hunter| OR: 111

9/1

Left Tom Lacey for £6,000 in September after a solid run of form during the summer months; disappointing on stable debut (Uttoxeter), but more like it at Kelso latest (3m2f, good) when an always handy 3¾L second to Chanceiton.

Form: 212352

Born For War²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 108| BF

5/6

Came up well short on his second start over fences at a rain-lashed Hexham (3m, soft) last month, and reverts to hurdling seeking to break the maiden tag; 4lb higher than when finishing second on his last hurdles start (had wind surgery since).

Form: 658-223

Tokaramore^h¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 106

5/1

Five-race hurdles maiden (two-time Kelso bumper winner in late 2016); has failed to see out her races over hurdles in 2018, but is easing in the weights as a result (down 8lb) and has previous Musselburgh experience.

Form: 0/533P-0

Solway Lark¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Callum Bewley| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 97

28/1

Most likely would've finished behind today's rival David John, but for unseating his rider at the final flight at Kelso (3m2f, good), and remains a maiden after ten starts; mark slowly easing, so could win a small race in time.

Form: 627F0U

Forecasts

Born For War (5/6), Island Heights (7/2), Tokaramore (5/1), David John (9/1), Letemgo (25/1), Solway Lark (28/1)

A small field, but this looks to be a fairly tight and trappy race. Wind surgery could potentially see Born For War in a much better light, and he certainly deserves another chance on quicker ground after being bogged down (over fences) at a rain-lashed Hexham. However, he's unlikely to represent much value at his projected odds, so a chance is taken on the top-weight ISLAND HEIGHTS in the hope that he can get his career back on track from a competitive handicap mark.