15:10 Kelso

Saturday 29 December 2018

All11:4512:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:10

Amateur Jockeys' Association Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 54.2s

Something Brewing^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Nathan Seery⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 115

20/1

Back over hurdles for the first time since falling at Musselburgh a month ago (has had a couple of AW spins in the interim); just 2lb higher than when narrowly beaten by a progressive rival over 2m5f here in October.

Form: 1-6322F

Craig Star^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Abbie McCain⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 114| C

13/2

Has either won or finished second in three of his last four Kelso appearances (2m2f-3m2f); competes off the same mark as when beaten just over 2L by Jack Devine in November.

Form: U-95825

Katy Royal³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 112| D

10/1

Left clear at the last (would've probably won anyway) when breaking the maiden tag at Hexham in May (2m7f+, good); reasonably reliable since but likely to find others stronger today.

Form: 3-123F6

Dimple²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Liam Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 110

9/4

Jumped impeccably when a decisive 8L winner over fences at Newcastle (2m4f) four weeks ago; new trainer Sandy Thomson has him in great nick, so he should take some stopping with 3lb claimer Liam Quinlan removing a chunk of his 8lb weights rise.

Form: 1P/3P5-1

Scales Of Justice^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Cameron Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 110

5/2

Lightly-raced over hurdles and therefore open to further improvement; just held when beaten a nose by Border Victor over C&D recently; fair chance in a similar race despite a 4lb rise in the weights.

Form: 8622

Landecker^v³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Kit Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 109| CD

8/1

Kelso specialist who is advancing in terms of years and therefore vulnerable to an improving type. However, is never dismissed at this track and 6lb lower than when winning over 3m2f here in January; wind surgery unsuccessful thus far.

Form: 5P8-966

Top Billing^p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Lyall Hodgins⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 108| D

10/1

Back to winning ways when accounting for stablemate Western Rules (by 6L) at Ayr (3m+, heavy) four weeks ago; fine on good to soft, but the handicapper has taken aim with a 10lb hike in the weights (rider removes 7lb).

Form: 64-3401

Newstart^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 101| C

14/1

Bought for £8,000 after winning a good-ground Hexham seller in May (for Brian Ellison); slipping back down the weights and will win more races for Katie Scott, just probably not against these rivals.

Form: 3-14094

Forecasts

Dimple (9/4), Scales Of Justice (5/2), Craig Star (13/2), Landecker (8/1), Katy Royal (10/1), Top Billing (10/1), Newstart (14/1), Something Brewing (20/1)

DIMPLE jumped impeccably when scoring on debut for Sandy Thomson at Newcastle four weeks ago and rates as the type who can prove capable of running up a sequence. Switched back to hurdles this afternoon, he should take a great deal of beating with the useful 3lb claimer Liam Quinlan removing a chunk of his subsequent 8lb rise in the weights (was partnered by his brother Sean at Newcastle). Other possible players include Scales Of Justice and Top Billing who have also most likely been placed in an Amateur Riders' contest in order to utilise the valuable 7lb claims of Cameron Wadge and Lyall Hodgins respectively.