17:20 Kelso

Saturday 23 March 2019

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

Ferguson Planning & Development Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 17:23 | Winning time: 5m 16.8s

Vamanos⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 115| BF

13/8

Better judged on his Bangor run than his last time out Catterick start (unsuited by track; jumped poorly) although his last outing has worked out well (both first/second, won since). Open to improvement now handicapping and upped in trip.

Form: 7-433

Blunder Buss²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 112

10/1

Finished off last season with a win at Musselburgh (2m3f) on his handicap debut in a slightly better grade than he faces here. Hasn't lived up to expectations as yet this term failing to take advantage of a much reduced mark; well held last time.

Form: 1-35744

Ballynanty^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 110| BF

10/1

Remains unexposed as a staying hurdler, the step up in trip to 3m at Musselburgh proving the catalyst for his first hurdles win (made mistakes). Early casualty last time out; remains with scope of this mark, should be better going left-handed.

Form: 55U31U

Sunny Destination^p1⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 104| BF

13/2

Cheekpieces on for the first-time in the hope of finding some progress to break his maiden status. Serious jumping errors have crept into his game in his last two starts though; won't be able to afford those here.

Form: 42-238P

General Allenby^p1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 103

12/1

Flat winner over 2m who hasn't really clicked over hurdles finishing well held last time at the track where he had won on the Flat (Catterick). May not have been suited by the trip (3m1f) last time, mark looks high though; cheekpieces applied.

Form: 3-53PP4

Captain Kurt¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 100

10/1

Noted that on two occasions here that he's outrun his big odds to turn in creditable performances. Appeared to have been given a handy mark for his handicap debut at Carlisle (disappointed over 2m1f); up in trip/back at Kelso; interesting player.

Form: 04733

Bullion³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 99

12/1

Two bumper and three hurdles starts (after a wind op) have proved to be a rather mixed bag; looks the sort who has been working his way to a handicap mark. Only raced at 2m so far; switch to handicaps plus new trip possible catalysts for progress.

Form: 35-657

Wild Sam¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 96

20/1

Career record of 0-15 but has gone close in a couple of handicaps when trained in Ireland. Well held on first start for this yard (reportedly suffered a breathing issue) and failed to settle fully; now up in trip, this run will reveal more.

Form: 33-6009

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 20p in the pound

Non-Runners

Saint Freule¹²²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: Blair Campbell

Forecasts

Vamanos (13/8), Saint Freule (4/1), Sunny Destination (13/2), Ballynanty (10/1), Blunder Buss (10/1), Captain Kurt (10/1), General Allenby (12/1), Bullion (12/1), Wild Sam (20/1)

Vamanos deserves to be given another chance although this tight circuit may not be suitable after he struggled around Catterick last time, his jumping also needs to hold up although his Catterick form has been boosted. It’s likely to be a case of which Saint Fruele turns up as he does have two ways of running and despite his win last time is far from the finished article. Ballynanty is still unexposed as a staying hurdler, he needs to bounce back from an early mishap last time plus this trip could be on the short side. CAPTAIN KURT disappointed on his handicap debut but the trip/track appeared all wrong and a return to this venue may well spark a better performance from him.