17:15 Kelso

Sunday 26 May 2019

All14:0014:3515:0515:3516:0516:4017:15

Five Star Taxis Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 17:18 | Winning time: 3m 46.70s

Zakharova¹⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁷⁾| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 109| D

5/2

2-3 in bumpers, winning at Musselburgh in February (good to soft) and last time out at Newcastle (AW). Well held in Grade 2 at Aintree in-between but should remain competitive under her penalty.

Form: 10/1-

Headscarf Lil

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Robson| T: N G Richards

10/1

€7,500 3yo. Third foal. Half-sister to point winner Defacto Lady. Dam placed in bumpers. Stable in cracking form and has a long term strike rate of 25% in this sphere, so no surprise to see her go well.

Form:

Highland Gold

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards

6/1

Fifth foal. Closely related to very useful 3m-3m1f hurdle/chase winner Singlefarmpayment, out of a mare who won five points. Stamina-laden pedigree from good yard and could make nice debut.

Form:

Kitty Hall

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards

6/4

€3,500 foal, €33,000 3yo. First foal. Dam bumper/2m4f hurdle winner, half-sister to 2m6f hurdle winner Taking Silk. A third runner for a stable in cracking form and looks the pick on jockey bookings.

Form:

Our Promise¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett

7/1

Made minor improvement for her debut when 9L third in a Hexham bumper (2m, good) earlier in the month. Experience can often count for plenty in these races, and she is not dismissed, but probably needs another step up.

Form: 4-3

Sweet Flora

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson

50/1

€1,000 foal, €2,000 3yo. Second foal. Dam placed 2m3f hurdle, sister to 2m5f-2m7f hurdle/chase winner Super Villan. Stable 0-10 in bumpers over past five seasons.

Form:

Annie Brown

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: A C Whillans

20/1

Second foal. Dam 2m-2m2f hurdle winner, half-sister to 5f/6f winner Hills Of Dakota and 6f-1m3f winner Robustian. Another runner for a stable that is 1-44 in bumpers over five seasons, so probably one to watch.

Form:

Whoa Black Betty

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs J Stephen

25/1

Fourth foal. Dam unraced half-sister to useful bumper/2m-2m6f hurdle/chase winner Aranleigh, from family of smart hurdler/chaser Gala's Image. Trainer not noted for bumpers winners, but market check suggested.

Form:

Non-Runners

Baby Bluesky

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: A C Whillans J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

Kitty Hall (6/4), Zakharova (5/2), Highland Gold (6/1), Our Promise (7/1), Headscarf Lil (10/1), Baby Bluesky (14/1), Annie Brown (20/1), Whoa Black Betty (25/1), Sweet Flora (50/1)

Experience can count for plenty in these races, so Our Promise enters calculations after an improved second run, while Zakharova looks sure to be popular with wins to her name, although she has to shoulder more weight as a result. That could open the door for a newcomer with some ability and with Brian Hughes booked, perhaps that can be the nicely bred KITTY HALL, who is one of three runners for Nicky Richards, a trainer with a good record in this sphere. Stablemate Highland Gold is probably also worth a market check along with Whoa Black Betty.