14:25 Kelso

Saturday 23 March 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Bernhard Lighting Rig Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 3m 52.80s

Irish Roe⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Atkinson| OR: 137| DWS

17/2

Thrived with four wins in 2017, some credible efforts to her name this term and has undergone wind surgery since last spotted. Not crossed off the list, should that assist.

Form: 6-3F273

Winston C⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 137| D

9/2

Useful stayer on Flat and hasn't done much wrong in making it 2-3 over hurdles so far, latest win at Sandown (2m, soft) last month in novice company. Opening handicap mark isn't lenient, but progressing and respected again.

Form: 311

Champagne City²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 136| CD

11/2

Tends to want good ground to be at his best (all four hurdles wins in summer) but excellent second behind Crooks Peak at Newbury (2m, good to soft) showed he can handle the forecast conditions. 3lb higher now.

Form: 414342

Saint Leo^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: James Reveley| T: A M Thomson| OR: 135| BF

8/1

Hurdle/chase winner when trained in France (all soft/heavy). Improved slightly on British debut effort when tried at Wetherby (1m7f, good to soft) at Christmas. Yet to be asked for effort at Ayr when falling last time. Switches to hurdles now.

Form: 15F-54F

Joke Dancer²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 132| D

5/1

Has won four of his last six starts and impressive when winning on return from an absence/wind surgery last time out at Newcastle. Handicapper has given him a chance with just a 5lb rise for that and could come on for the latest run.

Form: 15115-1

Aristo Du Plessis²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 132| D

20/1

Fine strike rate winning 10-32 most recently at Wetherby in December off this mark. Disappointing four starts since then (19L behind Joke Dancer latest) but handicapper is relenting and a better show cannot be ruled out.

Form: P16845

Get Out The Gate²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Bewley| T: J S Goldie| OR: 131| D

20/1

Ran well above expectations when second to a revived We Have Dream (second in the County Hurdle second) here two starst back over 2m2f, though was poor back here since and not hard to conclude handicapper has a bit in hand.

Form: 46-1326

Beeno^h¹²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 130

33/1

Front-runner who is capable on his day but still 2lb above his previous winning mark and not been seeing his races out of late, in most cases. Remains opposable off a short break.

Form: 323365

Ted Veale²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 130| D

33/1

Won 2013 County Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival but now well into veteran stage. Not disgraced for new connections over 2m5f here in January and another positive showing in third behind Joke Dancer at Newcastle dropped to this trip since.

Form: 6-01433

Ingleby Hollow^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: D O'Meara| OR: 129| D

6/1

Tasted success on the Flat at trips up to 2m, and has begun well over hurdles, with maiden/novice wins at Sedgefield (2m1f, good/good to soft) making it 2-3 over timber. Frontrunner makes handicap bow and should go well.

Form: 53-311

Martila^h⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 123| CD

9/1

Was 5lb out of the handicap when landing four-runner contest over C&D (good) in January, travelling strongly and holding on well late in the piece. This is a tougher assignment.

Form: 5-24441

Royal Reserve²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 118| D

10/1

Useful middle distance horse on the Flat for MIchael Bell and made an immediate impact for this yard when successful over hurdles at Newcastle (2m½f, good to soft) in January. Held since at Musselburgh, this looks toughest task so far.

Form: 4444/13

Non-Runners

Albert's Back²⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: M & D Easterby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Winston C (9/2), Joke Dancer (5/1), Champagne City (11/2), Ingleby Hollow (6/1), Albert's Back (7/1), Saint Leo (8/1), Irish Roe (17/2), Martila (9/1), Royal Reserve (10/1), Get Out The Gate (20/1), Aristo Du Plessis (20/1), Ted Veale (33/1), Beeno (33/1)

JOKE DANCER made light of an absence when scoring at Newcastle last time and Sue Smith's charge is expected to go very well again having gone up 5lb in the weights, as he's likely to be that little bit sharper now, too. The unexposed Winston C has taken to this discipline nicely (2-3) and shouldn't be overlooked hastily now tackling a handicap over timber. Ingleby Hollow is also going handicapping for the first time and dual Sedgefield scorer would be dangerous in possession of an easy lead. Champagne City and Saint Leo are worth keeping an eye on for market confidence.