14:25 Kelso

Saturday 26 October 2019

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

Clifford & Martin Firth Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 6m 23.80s

Katalystic³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105

9/2

Appears to do his best work at Perth (0-3 here) and broke his duck there last time, when an 8L winner (2m4f, good to soft). Up 9lb for that. Stays 3m, and could improve for the return to this trip. Player.

Form: 4F38-21

Prince Dundee^p,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105

10/3

Dual 3m Hexham chase winner (on good/good to soft) in the spring. 8lb higher than the more recent of those. Ran well over C&D when 1L second on his reappearance and looks a contender again from 3lb higher.

Form: 511-222

Voila Eric²²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 101

8/1

Third in a Southwell bumper (good) this time last year, but well held in all starts since. Looks to have a tough task on his hands based on that from from today's initial handicap mark, on his chase debut.

Form: 6/30569-

Oscar Ceremony^p,t1⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 96

9/2

Well held on his chase debut at Perth (3m, good) in June. Back in better form over hurdles at Hexham last month. Drops 2lb and new headgear on, but not easy to recommend him.

Form: 55-0433

Barfly¹⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 89

28/1

Irish point winner, but well held in all rules starts. Can only watch on chase debut.

Form: 2/1PP-63

Multipede⁹²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 83

17/2

0-10 so far and not seen since 5L third in a Sedgefield hurdle (3m3f, good) in April 2017. Trainer much respected when bringing them back from an absence, especially after 6lb drop like this one. Market check.

Form: P08463/

Skyhill^h,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 82

5/1

0-9 under rules, but ran well here (2m5f, soft; first-time tongue-tie and hood combination) when a keeping-on second over hurdles recently. Exposed maiden in that sphere, so needs improvement now chasing.

Form: 0P5-552

Ripstick²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 81

7/1

0-6 over fences, but has taken a couple of steps back in the right direction in finishing third twice at Hexham (2m4f, good/soft) recently. Up 2lb for the latest, and longer trip should suit this point winner. Not ruled out.

Form: 470-P33

Jackofhearts⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J C McGregor| OR: 64

66/1

Best efforts have all been at Perth, and he is 0-40 under rules. 15lb 'wrong' here and others preferred.

Form: 7-47P74

Forecasts

Prince Dundee (10/3), Oscar Ceremony (9/2), Katalystic (9/2), Skyhill (5/1), Ripstick (7/1), Voila Eric (8/1), Multipede (17/2), Barfly (28/1), Jackofhearts (66/1)

Having given the vote to a James Ewart-trained runner coming off the back of a layoff earlier on the card, it would be contradictory not to afford due respect to another of those here in Multipede, who could go well. Ripstick has a feather weight to carry and could get heavily involved now back up in trip, but Lucinda Russell appears to hold the key here through recent Perth winner Katalystic, and stablemate PRINCE DUNDEE, who ran well over C&D last time and might be the one for today.