15:15 Kelso

Saturday 6 March 2021

All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (Handicap Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 3m 59.42s

Christopher Wood^p,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| D

16/1

Fine second at Kempton during the Christmas period and produced a career-best when going one better at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft) next time. More needed up 7 lb, but couldn't rule out.

Form: 10-3921

Voix Du Reve^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 149| D

28/1

Smart chaser at best for Willie Mullins and has acquitted himself well back over hurdles for new yard this season, beaten 3¼ lengths by Christopher Wood at Musselburgh last month. Place possibilities.

Form: 36-0422

Faivoir⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| D

5/1

Made it 3-5 over hurdles when landing a Grade 2 novice at Haydock (15.6f, heavy) last time. Clearly talented, but further progress needed off this revised mark back in a handicap.

Form: 1-21411

Solo⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141| D

13/2

Made highly impressive British debut when landing the Adonis at Kempton last February. Disappointing since, but it's too soon to write this 5-y-o off given the ability he evidently possesses.

Form: 118-450

Hunters Call⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 139| D

8/1

Overcame a 31-month absence when scoring at Southwell last July. Done nothing wrong in competitive handicaps since, fine third in a big-field at Kempton last time, and another bold show anticipated.

Form: 1/14433

The Shunter^h,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Alain Cawley| T: E Mullins| OR: 135| BF| D

5/2

Has improved since joining this yard, notching third success in a strong Cheltenham handicap hurdle in December. Solid third in a valuable race over fences at Leopardstown since and merits respect.

Form: 411413

Tommy's Oscar²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 133| D

13/2

Winning pointer who improved again to complete a hat-trick over hurdles at Musselburgh (15.6f) in January. Lost no caste in defeat in a novice event over the same C&D since and he needs considering.

Form: 121112

Locker Room Talk^h²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 132| D

150/1

Has some solid chase form and returned with a bang to land 2¼m Kempton handicap in October. However, tailed off back in this sphere on debut for new yard at Musselburgh last month.

Form: 3113-10

Scardura^t⁹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 131| D

40/1

Off the mark at third attempt over fences at Newton Abbot in September. However, jumping issues have since surfaced and while the return to this sphere may help, he needs to raise his game.

Form: 2U1UF6

Night Edition¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 129| D

10/1

Quickly made up in a useful novice last term, winding campaign up by finishing a fine second in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival. However, well held both starts so far this season.

Form: 4212-00

Newtown Boy²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 128| C| D

80/1

Cashed in on a career-low mark at Musselburgh in December, but good run of form came to a grinding halt in the race won by Christopher Wood there last time.

Form: 561216

Blakeney Point^b,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 127| D

40/1

Sprung a surprise when narrowly outpointing Voix Du Reve at Musselburgh on New Year's Day, but not in the same form back there last month and likely to find a few too good once more.

Form: 8-19215

Playa Blanca⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 124| CD

50/1

Completed hurdles 4-timer on return over this C&D in October. Form has dipped markedly the last twice, though, never in the hunt on chase debut at Southwell when last seen in December.

Form: 11-1206

Orkan¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 122| D

14/1

Successful at Newcastle on sole start last winter and has raised his game the last twice, bagging handicaps at Wetherby and Warwick. This is a much stiffer assignment, but not without each-way hope.

Form: 41-4211

Forecasts

The Shunter (5/2), Faivoir (5/1), Solo (13/2), Tommy's Oscar (13/2), Hunters Call (8/1), Night Edition (10/1), Orkan (14/1), Christopher Wood (16/1), Voix Du Reve (28/1), Blakeney Point (40/1), Scardura (40/1), Playa Blanca (50/1), Newtown Boy (80/1), Locker Room Talk (150/1)

Irish-raider THE SHUNTER did the job well when scoring at Cheltenham on his latest start in this sphere in November, and subsequently lost not caste in defeat in a big-field handicap chase at Leoparstown. He remains open to improvement and should prove a tough nut to crack. Solo will be a threat off this reduced mark if able to bounce back, while Tommy's Oscar and Hunters Call also merit respect.