13:03 Kelso

Sunday 5 December 2021

All12:0312:3313:0313:3514:1014:4315:13

Lilburn Estate Scottish Borders National Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:04 | Winning time: 9m 6.14s

Almazhar Garde^p,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 138| C

14/1

Useful handicap chaser who picked up a couple of wins last season. Better than ever when second in Southern National at Fontwell last month. Likely to give his running again.

Form: P71-662

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Big River^p,t⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 135| C

15/2

Veteran with a very good record here, including second on his reappearance 6 weeks ago. All his wins have come in small fields but it still wouldn't be a surprise to see him go well.

Form: 5/38P0-2

Geronimo^t1²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 134

18/1

Off for 21 months prior to finishing well held in course novice hurdle last month but he's well capable off this mark at his best and his yard has a very good record in this race. Tongue tie added.

Form: 1P13P/6

Dawson City²²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Rex Dingle| T: P Gundry| OR: 128

50/1

Stout stayer who got up late on in a 29f Cartmel veterans' event in May, but well beaten in a deeper race at Cheltenham last month on his sole run since.

Form: 7136-18

Amateur^p,t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint| OR: 127

11/2

Successful at Newbury and Ffos Las last season. Ran as if needing the run on his Haydock return 15 days ago and better can be expected up in trip now. Considered under Robbie Dunne.

Form: P2141-5

Innisfree Lad^p1²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 127

22/1

Revitalised last season, winning 5 times (2 hurdle, 3 chase). No more than respectable efforts this term though and will need first-time cheekpieces to give him a bit extra upped markedly in trip.

Form: 2310-76

Do Not Disturb³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 123| BF| C

8/1

Completed a course hat-trick when returning from a break to see off 3 rivals over 3m in October. Another decent effort when second at Musselburgh last month but it shows he needs more from this mark.

Form: 72-1112

Chidswell³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 123| C

11/1

Last win came in Grimthorpe at Doncaster in March 2019. Shaped as if he's in reasonable form when fifth on his return from a break at Carlisle 5 weeks ago but others are preferred for win purposes.

Form: 6646-95

Dino Boy³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 123| BF| CD

15/2

Won this race 12 months ago and chased home Mighty Thunder at Musselburgh on next start. Good second on Carlisle return but needs to shrug off a lesser run since.

Form: P12P-25

Cash To Ash^p,t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 120

22/1

Notched second success over fences when landing 3m handicap at Ayr in March. Creditable second on his 3m Wetherby return but he'll need to improve for the much longer trip to take this.

Form: 6P21P-2

Strong Economy^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: I A Duncan| OR: 119

14/1

Dual winner in the mud at Ayr last season. Sound reappearance run at Carlisle 5 weeks ago and this return to a marathon trip promises to suit. Refitting of cheekpieces may also help.

Form: 1/3116-4

Weststreet^p³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 114| BF| D

5/2

Just second start for this yard when runner-up at Down Royal (3m) in October. Successful off a higher mark during his time with Oliver Sherwood. Won't want for stamina and big player.

Form: U462-52

Asking For Answers³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: M Todhunter| OR: 97

33/1

Won his first 2 starts last season and returned with another good run when second at Hexham last month. Should stay, but has to race from 15 lb out of the handicap here.

Form: 5/11PF-2

Forecasts

Weststreet (5/2), Amateur (11/2), Big River (15/2), Dino Boy (15/2), Do Not Disturb (8/1), Chidswell (11/1), Almazhar Garde (14/1), Strong Economy (14/1), Geronimo (18/1), Cash To Ash (22/1), Innisfree Lad (22/1), Asking For Answers (33/1), Dawson City (50/1)

WESTSTREET is well treated on his peak form and looks worth siding with to build on a decent effort for new trainer Gordon Elliott at Down Royal 5 weeks ago. Top-weight Almazhar Garde gave a bold show from the front in the Southern National last time and can figure prominently again. Amateur should be better with his reappearance behind him and could also go well under Robbie Dunne.