14:44 Kelso

Saturday 23 October 2021

All13:3414:0914:4415:1915:5416:2917:0417:35

Clifford, Martin & Sarah Firth Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:44 | Winning time: 6m 5.11s

Gipsy Lee Rose^p,t²²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: N W Alexander| OR: 104| BF

8/1

Point/hurdles winner who has finished in the money on each of her last 5 starts in handicap chases. Cheekpieces refitted (tried in a visor at Newcastle last time) on reappearance.

Form: 622333-

Jessiemac^t¹⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: D R Fox| T: I A Duncan| OR: 103| C

10/1

Hurdles winner from 1 lb lower this time last year. Rather in-and-out after last term and has had plenty of racing prior to this chase debut.

Form: 195278-

Lifeisahighway^t²⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 102| BF

5/2

Winning pointer who produced his best effort yet under Rules when runner-up in a handicap hurdle at Southwell in March. Built for chasing and looks an interesting proposition on return.

Form: P74072-

Breaking The Ice²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 91| BF

6/1

Made a good start over fences from a low base, winning at Cartmel and Perth this summer. Good run of form came to a halt at Hexham 3 weeks ago so bounce back called for.

Form: 521136

Ballintogher Boy²⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁵⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 90

14/1

Pulled up sole start in points and little in the way of solid form over hurdles last season.

Form: P/55660-

Crystal Lad^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: K Scott| OR: 83

18/1

Huntingdon handicap hurdle winner last season but has lost his form, rarely going with much fluency.

Form: 4UP-809

Flaming Glory^p¹⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: K Scott| OR: 80WS

15/2

Shaped as though in need of the run back from a wind op at Hexham in May. Off again since and reportedly had further breathing surgery.

Form: 3827P-5

Vintage Glen^t³⁰¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 79

7/1

Improved for return to 3m when runner-up at Wetherby in December. Off since but reappears for a yard among the winners.

Form: 68/4642-

Placedela Concorde^t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: M A Barnes| OR: 77| C

28/1

Good third from 11 lb out of the handicap here last month but no real surprise given overall profile he failed to back that up at Perth.

Form: F-70437

To The Limit^p1¹⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 76| BF

8/1

Slightly more promise when hitting the frame a couple of times over fences during the spring. May have more to offer this season and now equipped with first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 79P4-43

Tumbling Dice²⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 74| BF

18/1

Merely hinted at promise over hurdles but is in good hands and bred to do better over fences. Potential improver.

Form: 676990-

Flutter Down^p⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 69

66/1

No real promise in handicaps over both sets of obstacles and 9 lb out of the weights here.

Form: 4P7-P7P

Forecasts

Lifeisahighway (5/2), Breaking The Ice (6/1), Vintage Glen (7/1), Flaming Glory (15/2), Gipsy Lee Rose (8/1), To The Limit (8/1), Jessiemac (10/1), Ballintogher Boy (14/1), Tumbling Dice (18/1), Crystal Lad (18/1), Placedela Concorde (28/1), Flutter Down (66/1)

LIFEISAHIGHWAY possesses scope as a chaser this term given his pointing background and, now returning with his yard in reasonable nick, he has a lot going for him. Vintage Glen also reappears with the potential for better, with the more-established Gipsy Lee Rose another to note.