Brewin Dolphin Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 5m 43.10s

Aye Right⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Callum Bewley| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 126| C

4/6

Front-runner; took his record to 3-6 over hurdles when beating Road To Gold by 1½L at Ayr (2m5f, soft) around the turn of the year; raised 4lb (fair) and up marginally in trip; no doubts regarding Kelso (course form figures read; 3,2,1,1).

Form: 22-1161

Bordeaux Bill³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 122

4/1

Lost his way fractionally over fences and has of yet failed to really fully grasp the baton back over the smaller obstacles; better when beaten 7L by the well backed Irish raider Thosedaysaregone at Wetherby latest (2m3½f); will stay.

Form: 1P-4563

Lord Wishes^b⁶⁰⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Lucy Alexander| T: J Ewart| OR: 117| CD

22/1

Off the track for a mammoth period of 607-days. However, was a useful performer once upon a time (notably in bumpers/novice hurdles); now rated 8lb lower than his last winning mark over timber (in June 2016); market check advised.

Form: 06PU0/6-

Mistermoonboy⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: L Kerr| OR: 114

14/1

Former pointer who proved that his 50/1 3¾L Ayr second to the promising Buster Valentine (2m maiden, heavy) was no fluke when placed over a longer trip back there latest; has handled a sound surface previously; handicap debut.

Form: 4-33823

Something Brewing^p³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 113

14/1

Weakened behind the flourishing Dimple on his last start over hurdles here in December (C&D, good) but firmly enters the reckoning on his earlier neck second to One Night In Milan (2m5f, good); stamina must hold out.

Form: 6322F4

Ballycrystal Court³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 113| BF

9/1

Back from a short break with a perfectly respectable close-up second to Golden Jeffrey at Musselburgh (2m4f, good) in December, but keen and didn't appear to get home over 3m (3/1jf) latest; ground conditions just about perfect.

Form: 1P4-625

Forecasts

Aye Right (4/6), Bordeaux Bill (4/1), Ballycrystal Court (9/1), Something Brewing (14/1), Mistermoonboy (14/1), Lord Wishes (22/1)

This extended 2m6f trip probably isn't ideal for the vast majority of these runners, including the course specialist Aye Right, the fairly handicapped Ballycrystal Court and the broadly reliable SOMETHING BREWING. However, with the remaining trio not entirely convincing either the token advice is for the Iain Jardine-trained runner based solely upon the fact that he's tackled a couple of progressive rivals (Dimple and One Night In Milan) on each of his two previous visits to this Borders track.