Hunter REIM Ltd Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 58.5s

Midnight Shot^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 133

7/1

Boasts a rather impressive 33% strike-rate over fences (6-18); 3lb higher than when scoring by 13L on good ground at Fakenham (3m) in October 2018; sole representative for Oxon trainer Charlie Longsdon on today's card.

Form: 151653

Another Venture^v²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 132

15/8

Made all when back to winning ways in the first-time visor at Plumpton (3m2f, good to soft) three-weeks ago; holds every chance off just a 4lb higher mark; sole representative for Gloucestershire trainer Kim Bailey on today's card.

Form: 34-5651

Cultram Abbey⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 129| C

14/1

Veteran who knows his way around Kelso; 3lb higher than when beating Jet Master by 3L over an extended 2m6f here in December; more modest since; will probably find a few of the others stronger.

Form: 31-41PP

Valadom^t,v¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 123

5/1

Difficult to win with - hasn't done so since scoring over 3m at Bangor in November 2016; relatively untested since wind surgery, but would make slightly more appeal over hurdles from a competitive looking handicap mark.

Form: 643524

Well Above Par³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117

9/2

At his best around Hexham on a soft surface (2m4f) and the chances are that he still has more too offer long-term over the larger obstacles; possibly just a shade high in the weights and won't relish today's faster ground.

Form: F6-1274

King Golan^t,v1¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 105| CD

13/2

A vastly improved performer; a sound surface is vitally importantly; mugged on the line by Sporting Press after a fluent, front-running display at Musselburgh (2m4f) 17-days ago; up 3lb; stays this trip (C&D winner); visor replaces blinkers.

Form: 441122

Lowanbehold³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 102| C

9/1

Three-time course winner (won on this day in 2018) who is strong in the stamina department; versatile in terms of underfoot conditions, as shown when beaten ½L by So Satisfied at Musselburgh (3m, good) in February.

Form: 16-3692

Forecasts

Another Venture (15/8), Well Above Par (9/2), Valadom (5/1), King Golan (13/2), Midnight Shot (7/1), Lowanbehold (9/1), Cultram Abbey (14/1)

The heart bled for the gallant, front-running King Golan who really didn't deserve to be caught on the shadow of the post at Musselburgh 17-days ago, and even more cruelly, the handicapper has reacted swiftly with a further 3lb rise in the weights. However, we know that he'll run his race at this track, stays this longer trip, and the switch to a visor (from blinkers) should keep him on his toes. It's feasible that the front-runners will dominate this contest which features a couple of southern-based raiders. Kim Bailey is 4-26 (15%) at Kelso, and his recent visored Plumpton scorer ANOTHER VENTURE is taken to double-up off just a 4lb higher mark.