14:50 Kelso

Friday 19 February 2021

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2216:52

Edinburgh Gin Chase (Limited Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 6m 25.50s

Vintage Clouds⁹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 145WS

17/2

Back to best when wide-margin winner of Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock over a year ago. Struggled since but mark has edged down and he's dropping in grade after a break/wind op.

Form: 3158-75

Jonniesofa²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 139| CD

15/2

Lightly-raced chaser who didn't need to improve to make a winning return at Carlisle but was pulled up at Ascot subsequently. Fragile sort who seems best fresh.

Form: 1465-1P

Quick Wave^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 137

5/1

Useful chaser who got back on the up when landing a 6-runner handicap at Catterick last time, staying on well having jumped accurately. Well respected with the potential for better still.

Form: 212-F51

Crixus's Escape⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: G Boanas| OR: 135| C

7/2

Multiple hurdles winner who has already added to tally twice over fences, jumping well when completing his latest success at Ayr. Still looked in good form prior to falling at Haydock 62 days ago.

Form: 521-P1F

Claud And Goldie⁹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: R P McLernon| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 132| CD

11/2

Lightly-raced veteran who has gained both his career wins at this track and ran well here on reappearance. Shaped as if still in form next time and freshened up (off 90 days) since, so not discounted.

Form: 33/14-24

Duc De Grissay⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Thomson| OR: 126| BF| CD

3/1

Landed C&D novice in March and resumed with eye-catching fourth at Sedgefield. Probably would have landed gamble but for unseating last in Borders National here in December, so looks for compensation.

Form: 3431-4F

Up Helly Aa King^t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 124

9/1

Consistent sort who scored cosily on return at Ayr and very good second in 3m handicap there next time. Excuses at Sandown last time, so expected to bounce back.

Form: 21-1425

Non-Runners

Dieu Vivant²⁹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 8

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Duc De Grissay (3/1), Crixus's Escape (7/2), Quick Wave (5/1), Claud And Goldie (11/2), Jonniesofa (15/2), Vintage Clouds (17/2), Up Helly Aa King (9/1), Dieu Vivant (25/1)

DUC DE GRISSAY landed a novice chase over C&D last season and looked the likeliest winner of the Borders National last time before unseating at the last, so he's fancied to continue his improvement and land this despite an 8 lb rise. Recent Catterick scorer Quick Wave is an obvious danger, while Vintage Clouds is worth a mention now back on a feasible mark.