11:45 Kelso

Sunday 29 December 2019

All11:4512:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:10

Every Race Live On Racing TV Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 11:45 | Winning time: 6m 6.10s

Dancewiththewind⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: Mrs H O Graham

8/1

Irish point-to-point winner at the second attempt. Bought for £110,000 soon after. Showed some ability on his Rules debut in a Carlisle novice (2m4f, soft), ought to do better with that experience behind him.

Form: 51-7

Grumpy Boots⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans

33/1

Third in an Irish point-to-point in October cost £16,000 soon after and makes his Rules debut. Dam unraced sister to bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler Our Joey, worth a glance in the market in a relatively weak race.

Form: 3

Milvale²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson

9/2

Fair form in bumpers but so far hasn't managed to better that over hurdles with a weak effort on his latest start at Sedgefield. Bred to stay well he seemed beaten by the 2m4f trip there; now steps up in trip, more needed to trouble the principals.

Form: 2226-45

Pentelitubby^p⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett

100/1

Made his debut in cheekpieces (retained here) when finishing well beaten in a Carlisle bumper last month. Makes his hurdles debut over a much longer trip but has done little so far that would make him worth supporting here.

Form: 7

Rintulla⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: B Pauling

9/2

From a stable that may now be emerging from the doldrums he won a Carlisle bumper with ease on his third start in that sphere back in the spring. Shaped better than being pulled up would suggest on his hurdling bow; better expected this time.

Form: 371-P

Scullys Forge⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Stephen

66/1

Winner in Irish point-to-points but his form over hurdles so far can only be described as poor. Very much looked one for the longer-term on his latest start at Ayr; would need to take a big step forward to be competitive here.

Form: P5-188

Tara Mill²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David England| T: S England| OR: 130

9/2

Shaped a though he needed the run last time at Sedgefield on his GB/stable debut having been off the track for nine months. Didn't do too badly and may improve this time around over the longest trip he will have tried.

Form: P/8453-3

Uptown Harry⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 118

7/4

Showed some fair form over hurdles last season finishing second on his last two starts that term including on his handicap debut. Not found the same sort of zip this season (pulled up when last seen); claims on best form but needs to find it.

Form: 2422-4P

Bright Side Oflife²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

12/1

Has winning form in an Irish point-to-point and has shaped well enough in two starts for this yard. Her hurdles debut came after a seven month break over slightly shorter here (entitled to come on from that), up in trip; should get involved.

Form: 51/47

Forecasts

Uptown Harry (7/4), Milvale (9/2), Rintulla (9/2), Tara Mill (9/2), Dancewiththewind (8/1), Bright Side Oflife (12/1), Grumpy Boots (33/1), Scullys Forge (66/1), Pentelitubby (100/1)

Not much solid form to go on in a contest that lacks investing appeal. RINTULLA has already won a bumper and with his hurdles debut being better than it reads on paper he’s given a chance to make amends for the Ben Pauling yard that is starting to find it’s feet again. Bright Side Oflife is another expected to take a step forward from her hurdling debut whilst Uptown Harry can’t be ruled out if he finds his form of last season. Tara Mill already has a rather stiff looking handicap mark of 130 but can’t be ignored in this company with Dancewiththewind expected to come on from his initial outing, he looks the best of those at longer prices.