13:25 Kelso

Sunday 29 December 2019

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

George & Margaret Higgins Festive Celebration Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:27 | Winning time: 4m 10.4s

Mister Manduro¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 114| D

8/1

Successful on his first completed start over hurdles this formerly useful Flat stayer has done the rounds in terms of training yards of late. Found life tougher under a penalty last time (after a break); this looks a slightly easier task.

Form: U17

Abouttimeyoutoldme¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: A C Whillans

100/1

Poor on the Flat (originally with Ralph Beckett) his hurdles form hasn't been any better. Beaten 104L last time at Hexham it's hard to see him making an impact in this contest.

Form: 0F6

Ballydonagh Boy²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss P Robson

10/1

Placed in both his Irish point-to-point starts he showed some ability under a considerate ride on his Rules debut over hurdles at Ayr. Didn't make the same impression last time; looks to be being brought along with handicaps in mind.

Form: 23-75

Dubai Days²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: N W Alexander

2/1

Fair sort in a couple of bumpers the first when he was trained in Ireland he probably reached about the same level of form on his hurdling debut at Sedgefield. Can take a strong hold (needs to settle better); yard have a good record in this race.

Form: 5P-233

Flutter Down^h⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

50/1

Modest form in three bumpers and has on one occasion looked a little quirky (worn hood last two starts, retained here). Looked a little easier to handle last time and now turns his attentions to hurdling for the first time.

Form: 8-43

Last King Of Wales^t⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

66/1

Well held on his bumper debut after which he had wind surgery and he's shown a little more over hurdles on his last two starts. Bred to be a stayer and shapes like one; may do better in the future most likely with a mark over longer trips.

Form: P-4886

Mamdood^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Stef Keniry

66/1

Newcomer over hurdles having performed to a modest level on the Flat winning a couple of times the latest a handicap over 1m4f on the AW. Below form when last seen on the level, looks as tough he has work to do to be competitive.

Form:

Mario De Pail³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: S Thomas| D

15/8

Brought along steadily in bumpers winning a Ffos Las version last time under a good claimer in testing conditions. Impressed with his attitude last time, now makes his hurdles debut in a race that shouldn't be too testing; enters calculations.

Form: 3-21

Mill Island²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd

66/1

Failed to complete in both starts in Irish point-to-points and his form hasn't shown any improvement under Rules. Well beaten in two hurdles starts the latest coming over C&D (beaten 51L); hard to muster any enthusiasm.

Form: PU68

Overcourt²⁹

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

33/1

Bred to need time and distance and has shown very little so far unsurprisingly as he's only been seen over 2m. Well held in a bumper on debut his initial hurdles start also offered little; can only be watched on his second hurdles start.

Form: 88

Raymond¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: K Dalgleish

25/1

Has one standout bumper effort to his name finishing runner-up on his second start in that sphere in a race that wasn't run to suit. Hasn't matched that form since with his hurdles debut offering little; looks one for further down the line.

Form: 4-259

Trooper Turnbull^h1⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

8/1

Shown promise in two Newcastle bumper starts 11 months apart staying on well and building on the ability shown on his debut last time. Hood now fitted for his hurdles debut over a trip/conditions that should suit.

Form: 4-2

Whoa Black Betty²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs J Stephen

16/1

Performed slightly better over hurdles than she did in bumpers although this 2m trip looks rather on the short side for her. Requires this run for a mark; will probably fare better in handicaps over 2m4f plus.

Form: 6563

Non-Runners

Tortuga Bay³⁰⁸

Weight: 10-5| Age: 5

T: J Ewart J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Mario De Pail (15/8), Dubai Days (2/1), Trooper Turnbull (8/1), Mister Manduro (8/1), Tortuga Bay (8/1), Ballydonagh Boy (10/1), Whoa Black Betty (16/1), Raymond (25/1), Overcourt (33/1), Flutter Down (50/1), Mamdood (66/1), Last King Of Wales (66/1), Mill Island (66/1), Abouttimeyoutoldme (100/1)

Not a particularly deep event and Nick Alexander who has trained four of the last five winners of this event will be hoping to improve on those figures via Dubai Days although he’ll need to settle better than he has so far. A couple making their hurdling debuts catch the eye in Trooper Turnbull and Ffos Las winner MARIO DE PAIL for trainer Sam Thomas for whom this will be his first Kelso runner and he looks to have found a good opening for his charge. The only penalised runner Mister Manduro enters the argument and the chances are that he won’t find this as testing as his last run at Carlisle. Raymond, Last King Of Wales and Whoa Black Betty will all be seen to better effect in handicaps.