13:50 Kelso

Saturday 26 October 2019

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

Tarrag Naegel Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 28.7s

Benny's Secret^h,t¹⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 105| C

7/1

All four hurdles wins have been here (2m2f-2m6½f; on good/good to soft). Same mark here as the last of those in April. 0-3 over fences. Went close in this discipline at Musselburgh in January. Return here should help. Claims.

Form: 52321-7

Mah Mate Bob^h²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 101

7/1

1-10, having won over hurdles at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) in March, when 7lb lower. Open to improvement now switching to chasing. Not ruled out, though trip looks short enough.

Form: 844214-

An Fear Ciuin³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: R M Smith| OR: 100| C

17/2

Multiple Flat winner at up to 2m. Sole hurdles win from 22 starts came here over 2m (good) last year, when 6lb higher. Stayed on for second over C&D on chase debut last month. Drops 5lb and has claims.

Form: 542-592

Warendorf¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 96

10/3

0-5 so far, and well held by Sam Spinner on his chase debut at Wetherby recently. Drops in trip, and looks one to keep an eye on with the future in mind.

Form: D/3559-4

Emissaire²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 95

7/2

Showed bit of promise in winning a bumper and over hurdles, particularly on heavy ground. Not a bad effort on chase debut at Bangor (2m1½f, soft) earlier in the month. 2lb drop, and not ruled out of the money.

Form: 53476-3

Mon Ami Bob^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 93

22/1

Minor promise in a couple of bumpers and also when fourth (beaten 14L) in a novices' hurdle here in January. Pulled up on recent reappearance at Hexham. Half-brother to a 2m chase winner, so this switch opens up possibilities. Market check.

Form: 740/44-P

Bering Upsun⁶⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 91

4/1

Runner-up in a soft ground Ayr bumper in 2016, and placed on his two of his three more recent starts over hurdles, both on testing ground. Not bred to be a chaser, but sure to be well prepared after a lengthy layoff and is well treated. Interesting.

Form: 548382/

Some Ambition^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Dowson| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 81

50/1

0-11 career record. Well held over C&D on chase debut last month, and readily opposed here.

Form: P8P535

Newstart^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: K Scott| OR: 77| C

12/1

Won here over hurdles when with Brian Ellison, but is 0-11 since joining this trainer, and beaten a long way in both starts since a summer break. Watching brief advised on his chase debut.

Form: 7797-00

Cyrano Star^p,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 63

100/1

0-18 under rules, and has shown nothing of interest on his last four starts. Happy to watch from 16lb 'wrong' on his chase debut.

Form: P27-P90

Forecasts

Warendorf (10/3), Emissaire (7/2), Bering Upsun (4/1), Mah Mate Bob (7/1), Benny's Secret (7/1), An Fear Ciuin (17/2), Newstart (12/1), Mon Ami Bob (22/1), Some Ambition (50/1), Cyrano Star (100/1)

An interesting novices' chase, where course specialist Benny's Secret could go close from this mark, and An Fear Ciuin could improve for his recent run here and play a big part. However, BERING UPSUN is well treated on his old hurdles form and looks worth chancing on his comeback and chase debut. Trainer James Ewart can often work the oracle with runners are a lengthy layoff like this. Keep an eye on the market with regard to Lucinda Russell's pair Emissaire and Mon Ami Bob.