13:25 Kelso

Thursday 14 February 2019

All13:2513:5514:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Every Race Live On Racing TV Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 3m 53.70s

Dream Du Grand Val^h¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133

1/3

Failed to win over hurdles in France (0-6) but has upped his game since joining Nicky Henderson; 133-rated off the back of a comfortable 10L win at Fontwell (2m1f+ good to soft) in January; has a keen style of racing.

Form: 4243-61

Bullion³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Alexander| T: J Ewart

80/1

Brother to the French 2m3f hurdle/chase winner Innovate; slowly improving with racing since wind surgery and has previous course experience; stablemate of Into The Breach.

Form: 35-65

Into The Breach⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart

50/1

Low-key in bumpers and started at odds of 40/1 when beaten in excess of 15L (fifth of nine) by Dali Mail on hurdles debut at Ayr (2m maiden, heavy); stablemate of Bullion.

Form: 77-5

Near Kettering²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Bewley| T: S England

400/1

Two-time Flat winner (1m2f-1m3f+) but absolutely woeful over hurdles so far (0-3) and can't enter calculations accordingly.

Form: 807

Point Break^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 119

4/1

Has shown improved form since joining the Capheaton stable of Ann Hamilton; let down by a poor jump at the last on his penultimate start, but bustled up the odds-on favourite Rouge Vif in a Newcastle novice (2m, soft) 16-days ago.

Form: 463632

Skiddaw Valleys³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards

6/1

Three-time Flat winner (1m1f-1m6f) for the late Alan Swinbank, but essentially only moderate (66-rated); shaped encouragingly on hurdles debut over C&D last month when finishing 4L third to Encore Champs; rock-solid in the place market.

Form: 3

Stornaway¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Ross

400/1

0-14 in PTP's and lacked fluency (soon beaten) when finishing well behind today's rival Point Break on hurdles debut at Newcastle (2m, soft) last month; back number.

Form: 5PP5-49

Non-Runners

Fourth Of July⁵⁴

Weight: 10-6| Age: 4

T: R M Smith J: Dale Irving

Forecasts

Dream Du Grand Val (1/3), Point Break (4/1), Skiddaw Valleys (6/1), Into The Breach (50/1), Fourth Of July (66/1), Bullion (80/1), Near Kettering (400/1), Stornaway (400/1)

Difficult to look beyond the 133-rated Fontwell scorer DREAM DU GRAND VAL who should kick-start what promises to be a productive afternoon in the Scottish Borders for Nicky Henderson. His keen style of racing looks well suited to this sharp track and he has the standout piece of form on offer. The minor placings can be filled by Point Break and Skiddaw Valleys with precious little else making any form of positive appeal.