16:45 Kelso

Wednesday 18 September 2019

All15:4016:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:45

Harper Gow Family Supporting Alzheimer Scotland Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 23.10s

Sebastian Beach^b1,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 111

7/1

Returns to chasing (only fourth try in this sphere) off the same mark as he made a wining debut over fences (July 2017). Lightly-raced and with a different yard now; operating below his best, bounce back to form can't be ruled out though.

Form: 14/2533

Braavos^b¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 110

13/2

Winning hurdler for Philip Hobbs; current yard yet to find the key to him over the larger obstacles. 0-13 in this sphere he ran relatively well last time when beaten 13L off this mark at Hexham; this looks more competitive, place chance at best.

Form: 75-P252

Zolfo^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: J Candlish| OR: 110

7/1

Best when held up and produced late today's pilot executed those tactics perfectly last time when pounced late to win at Bangor (2m4f), jumped well. Temperament has come under suspicion in the past, now has a career-high mark to cope with.

Form: 31F431

Old Salt^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 109

20/1

In better form over fences earlier in the year (won three from four) at this trip; may well be that handicapper has regained control in his last two starts. Ran a particularly moody race in a visor last time; normal headgear combination refitted.

Form: 11-4147

Ballycrystal Court^p,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 107

13/2

Left his chasing debut behind when taking a Market Rasen handicap last time (2m5f) in a race where only eight fences were jumped. Had to make his race-winning move earlier than ideal (deserves extra credit); open to more progress off 3lb higher mark.

Form: 553-361

Exit To Where^p,t¹³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105

9/2

Improved over fences for this yard; only beaten by his more favoured stablemate on GB chase debut, stepped forward again when last seen at Hexham (3m), finished third. Off a workable mark if he can overcome an absence, not yet fully exposed.

Form: P/7852-3

Alderbrook Lad¹³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 105| D

22/1

Veteran chaser who isn't the force of old these days; fell when well supported in a race run to suit at Sedgefield last time. Undoubtedly well handicapped on his old form it's questionable if he can run to that level anymore; needs other to falter.

Form: 3P554F

Ever So Much^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 100

12/1

Bounced back to form in a weak (race fell apart, literally) handicap chase at Sedgefield last time. Has won off this mark in the dim and distant past but features above his last five winning marks; faces a much tougher task in this.

Form: 831661

Damiens Dilemma^p⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 95

15/2

Had several reasonable chances to win a race this summer but has so far failed to do although he did bounce back to form here last time over further. Needs to dominate his races, not certain to repeat his latest run; involved if he can duplicate.

Form: 322872

Dun Faw Good⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Walton| OR: 94

11/1

Wasted no time in returning to form off the back of a break when third here over further last week (Damiens Dilemma, second). Placed twice at this level he's yet to win in this grade although he has slipped down the handicap; each-way chance.

Form: 2-52403

Apache Pilot^t,v¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-1| J: D B Hurst⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 85

20/1

0-3 at this venue and usually seen to best effect at Hexham; last win came there in May off a 3lb lower mark. Ran respectably after a break there last time, but this trip looks on the short side with his form away from Hexham unreliable.

Form: 21U393

Brother Scott⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: B Butterworth| OR: 80

50/1

Continues to plummet in the weights after wind surgery but looks to have lost his way of late, unseated his rider at the first here over further last time. Would be a surprise if he could be competitive, even in a weak heat such as this.

Form: 63-987U

Forecasts

Exit To Where (9/2), Ballycrystal Court (13/2), Braavos (13/2), Sebastian Beach (7/1), Zolfo (7/1), Damiens Dilemma (15/2), Dun Faw Good (11/1), Ever So Much (12/1), Old Salt (20/1), Apache Pilot (20/1), Alderbrook Lad (22/1), Brother Scott (50/1)

Not a particularly strong contest and were it not for a significant absence Exit To Where would have been of interest although his trainer (Lucinda Russell) does have a 20% strike-rate with her chasers at Kelso returning off a 100 plus days break. Zolfo who goes well for Brian Hughes has to be considered while Braavos and Sebastian Beach are respected on the best of their form. BALLYCRYSTAL COURT has the most scope for progress of these having emerged from a messy Market Rasen contest last time with plenty of credit, the handicapper raising him just 3lb. Damiens Dilemma and Dun Faw Good were second and third respectively here last week but more is needed in this better heat.