12:15 Kelso

Sunday 8 December 2019

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

William Hill Bookmakers 'National Hunt' Auction Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:21 | Winning time: 4m 12.34s

Ask Himself²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 117| BF

4/9

Showed some fair form in a couple of bumpers prior to producing a similar level of form over hurdles; finished runner-up twice. Went like the best horse in the race last time at Hereford over this trip (caught close home); ought to go well again.

Form: 3/24-22

Broadway Joe²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander

40/1

Maiden from Irish point-to-points who is bred more for stamina than speed so it wasn't a surprise to see him well held on his Sedgefield debut over 2m. Gets a similar test here, won't come into his own until tackling longer trips.

Form: P-26

Cool Country¹⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R D Day| T: M Todhunter

50/1

Cut little ice in Irish point-to-points in April and May of this year finishing fifth on the first occasion, pulled up when last seen. Unlikely to be making much impact on his hurdles debut.

Form: 5P

Destiny Is All³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

50/1

Unplaced in three Irish point-to-points he hardly done much better under Rules finishing well held in two novice hurdles over 2m4f. Looks the sort to be brought along gradually; steps back to a bare 2m here, little expected before gaining a mark.

Form: 5-4585

Elf De Re⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson

7/2

Fair form in bumpers although he failed to match his debut form on his second start in that sphere. Offered something to work from his hurdles debut after seven months off when third over C&D; needs to progress again to make an impression.

Form: 65-3

Elu Secret²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| D

50/1

Dual bumper winner in France who has shown very little since transferring to this yard and running over hurdles. Fared no better than his hurdling debut when only beating only one home at Ayr last time over 2m4f; hard to make a case for.

Form: 2-51099

Heartbreak Kid²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| BF

7/1

Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Sonic (winner for this yard) he was an easy winner of his sole Irish point-to-point start. Failed to meet market expectations on his Rules debut at Bangor (2m1f, heavy); capable of better in the future.

Form: 1-3

Mill Island³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd

80/1

Failed to complete on both his Irish point-to-points starts he offered little when starting at 50-1 for his Hexham hurdles debut last month over this trip. Looks the type to need time at the very least and hard to fashion a case for him here.

Form: PU6

Lissen To The Lady³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S E Forster

125/1

Modest at best in three bumpers spread over the duration of a year she hardly did anything on her hurdles debut to give the impression she was going to be any better in this sphere. Offered little at Hexham last month, best watched.

Form: 66-68

Tarset Hinny^h,t⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

66/1

Had a wind op prior to making her bumper debut and equipped with a hood and tongue-tie for that initial outing. Had the run of he race and it was unlikely that she achieved a great deal eventually finishing well held; hurdles debut waits.

Form: 6

Whoa Black Betty³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs J Stephen

33/1

Hinted a small amount of ability in a couple of bumpers over 2m here separated by a break of four months. Sent over hurdles last month she ran to just a poor level looking more likely to succeed in low-key handicaps further down the line.

Form: 656

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

Captain Blackpearl²²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: T R George J: Non Runner

Empire Steel²⁰³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: A M Thomson J: Callum Bewley

Forecasts

Ask Himself (4/9), Captain Blackpearl (5/2), Elf De Re (7/2), Heartbreak Kid (7/1), Empire Steel (20/1), Whoa Black Betty (33/1), Broadway Joe (40/1), Cool Country (50/1), Destiny Is All (50/1), Elu Secret (50/1), Tarset Hinny (66/1), Mill Island (80/1), Lissen To The Lady (125/1)

Hard to look beyond two or three of this field for the winner with the Uttoxeter second on his hurdling debut Captain Blackpearl now a non-runner. ASK HIMSELF has come agonisingly close to opening his account on both his hurdles starts and this looks a good chance for him to go one better. Irish point-to-point winner Heartbreak Kid is capable of an awful lot more than he showed on his disappointing Bangor debut and looks the main danger Elf De Re gave some hope for the future when third over C&D last time but would need to show some real further progress to take this although he should slip into the minor placing.