14:05 Kelso

Saturday 27 March 2021

All12:3013:0013:3514:0514:4015:1515:50

William Hill Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 6m 48.1s

Agrapart^t⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 142WS

18/1

Winless over hurdles since landing 2018 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham. Encouraging display when fourth at aforementioned venue penultimate start but again below par at Exeter since. Had wind surgery.

Form: 42-8846

West To The Bridge^h²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| BF

17/2

Bounced back to very best when runner-up at Wetherby (19.7f) last month but never figured having first start over fences for 14 months at Catterick recently. Bounce back a distinct possibility.

Form: 15P42P

Cap Du Nord^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 136

13/2

Form hit new heights this season, successful at Newbury (22.4f) in November prior to solid in-the-frame efforts in stronger company since. Operating from 6 lb lower mark back over hurdles.

Form: 6-41235

Miah Grace³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 135

12/1

Three-time winner last term who has looked no more than averagely treated in handicaps of late, left in a place when third at Wetherby (19.7f) last month. Longer trip needs to unlock some improvement.

Form: 1-62823

I K Brunel⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 133WS

10/1

Dual hurdles winner last term who showed some promise over fences in the autumn. Disappointing in Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Ascot in January and undergone wind surgery since.

Form: 41-2380

Donna's Diamond^p³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁵⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 132| C| D

50/1

Rendlesham Hurdle winner in 2018 and fine second in last season's renewal of that Grade 2 contest. However, he's not featured in trio of starts so far this campaign and he's tough to assess.

Form: 5/2P-67P

Mahlervous^p⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 131| C

22/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner who opened chase account in a 23.4f novice here in December. Struggled under a penalty at Musselburgh since and switches back to hurdles now. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 23-9214

Taxmeifyoucan^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Peter Coleman⁽¹⁰⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 127| C| D

11/1

Capitalised on a career-low mark when returning to winning ways at Musselburgh (26f) in February. Never threatened over extended 20f here 3 weeks ago but return to further a plus.

Form: P39516

Mr Harp³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: T Gallagher| OR: 126

4/1

Scored on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (23.3f) in December and hit the frame both starts since, latterly when runner-up in a Haydock Grade 2 and interesting back in a handicap.

Form: 423122

Kaizer³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: A C Whillans| OR: 123| C

7/1

Fairly useful hurdler who went close to adding to the tally at Musselburgh (26f) on penultimate start, edged out dying strides by Taxmeifyoucan. Not disgraced at Ascot since but mark does demand more.

Form: 315327

Doyen Breed^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 121

10/3

Bumper winner who confirmed promise of placed efforts in handicaps for new yard when off the mark at Ayr (3m) at the start of the month. 6 lb higher now but he may yet have more to offer.

Form: 343-221

Non-Runners

Sultans Pride³¹

Weight: 10-6| Age: 9

T: G Boanas J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Doyen Breed (10/3), Mr Harp (4/1), Sultans Pride (11/2), Cap Du Nord (13/2), Kaizer (7/1), West To The Bridge (17/2), I K Brunel (10/1), Taxmeifyoucan (11/1), Miah Grace (12/1), Agrapart (18/1), Mahlervous (22/1), Donna's Diamond (50/1)

DOYEN BREED has taken his form to a new level upon joining Sandy Thomson this term, getting off the mark in good style at Ayr at the start of the month, and he's fancied to make a bold bid to follow up from his revised mark. There's plenty of depth to this race though, with Mr Harp, Sultans Pride and West To The Bridge others fancied to get involved.