13:45 Kelso

Monday 27 January 2020

All13:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:15

Racing To Work Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:47 | Winning time: 7m 4.1s

Taxmeifyoucan^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 130| C

12/1

Failed to shine at Ayr (2m5½f, soft) earlier this month and probably better judged on his previous Carlisle win (3m1f, soft); was placed off this mark here (2m) in April 2018; most likely in with a shout for the minor honours.

Form: 68-1416

Perfect Man^p,t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 129

9/2

Returned from his summer break to score for the second time for Olly Murphy (Chepstow 2m7½f, soft); wasn't ever travelling when tackling stronger opponents (Class 2) back there over the festive period; on a stiff looking handicap mark?

Form: 5643-15

No Hiding Place^p²⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 126

33/1

Absent since finishing third (beaten just under 6L) to Django Django at Haydock (3m½f, good) in April 2019; left Nicky Henderson for £10,000 in August 2019; debuts for the Cartmel handler James Moffatt; best watched.

Form: 321463-

Uptown Harry²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 123| C

15/8

Lightly raced; back to peak form when making all for a determined 9L win here (2m6½f, soft) four weeks ago; sits 5lb higher in a better race (Class 3); fair chance with proven course form often counting for plenty at this sharp track.

Form: 422-4P1

Ryedale Racer⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 123

33/1

Formerly with Ruth Jefferson; struck at the second attempt for Nick Alexander at Hexham (2m7½f, soft) in November before disappointing at Wetherby; 5lb above that 'winning' mark; freshened up by a 72-day break from the track?

Form: 72-F51P

Kalaharry²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Callum Bewley| T: A C Whillans| OR: 113

5/2

Kept on strongly for pressure when beating a pair of subsequent winners (Haul Us In and Teescomponentstrig) at Ayr (3m½f, soft) 25 days ago; a subsequent 6lb weights rise means a career high mark of 113; further rainfall would boost his chances.

Form: 71-0451

Total Assets^p²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: S Waugh| OR: 111| CD

6/1

Adores Kelso (four-time course winner); mainly campaigned over marathon trips (fences) so far this season; same mark as when finishing 6½L third to Court Baloo and the recent Sedgefield scorer Hastrubal (Kalaharry fourth) over C&D in November.

Form: 5-33332

Result Amended

Taxmeifyoucan - Original Position 6th. Amended Position 5th.

No Hiding Place - Original Position 3rd. Amended Position 6th.

Uptown Harry - Original Position 5th. Amended Position 4th.

Total Assets - Original Position 4th. Amended Position 3rd.

Forecasts

Uptown Harry (15/8), Kalaharry (5/2), Perfect Man (9/2), Total Assets (6/1), Taxmeifyoucan (12/1), No Hiding Place (33/1), Ryedale Racer (33/1)

A tricky looking handicap hurdle for the stayers with the course-specialist Total Assets reverting back to smaller obstacles following some fair efforts in defeat over fences (at marathon trips). With a number of her rivals certainly capable, albeit a shade frustrating (Taxmeifyoucan, Ryedale Racer etc) she would make appeal from a consistency perspective. However, at more rewarding odds it's possibly worth chancing that the lightly raced, yet improving six-year-old UPTOWN HARRY can cope with both the step up in trip and grade and make his presence felt from an early stage (front-runs).