14:43 Kelso

Sunday 5 December 2021

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

George & Margaret Failte Air Ais Comharrahadh Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:43 | Winning time: 6m 4.68s

Grand Voyage²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 102

15/8

Fair maiden who arrives in good nick, second of 14 in handicap hurdle here (20.9f) 29 days ago. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: 48-6332

The Jad Factor¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Ryan Mania| T: R M Smith| OR: 100

14/1

Failed to confirm form of his novice hurdle fourth here when below-par fifth at Ayr (2m) 19 days ago. Needs to bounce back upped in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 55-45

Definite Wisdom^v⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 97| BF

28/1

Dual chase winner but pulled up in handicap chase on return here 63 days ago. Reverts to hurdles now with a bit to prove.

Form: P/716F-P

Fever Roque²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 96

12/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Off 5 months but he posted best run when fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (19.8f) 24 days ago. In the mix if building on that.

Form: 33-345

Dr Shirocco²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 96

80/1

Still a maiden, and he came in last of 7 in handicap hurdle at Carlisle (20f) 27 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: 4-01877

Tartan Cookie^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 94

28/1

Fair maiden hurdler but well held at Hexham 18 days ago. Cheekpieces back on, and more needed going into handicaps now upped markedly in trip.

Form: 553-P40

Geonice^h1³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 91| D

9/4

Opened his account in 23f Hexham handicap in October before very good second off 5 lb higher mark there 30 days ago. Hood on now and merits serious consideration off same mark.

Form: F-00312

Hungry Tiger³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D B Hurst⁽⁷⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 87

17/2

Ex-Irish chase winner who comes here in good order. second of 11 in handicap chase at Sedgefield (19.3f) 31 days ago. Can't be discounted switched to hurdles.

Form: 0166F2

Well Cliche³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M Todhunter| OR: 87

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler who wasn't disgraced on handicap bow when eighth of 14 at Sedgefield (21.2f) 31 days ago. Needs a bit more if she's to open her account here though.

Form: 23-6558

Queen Of Fame¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent| OR: 87

16/1

Ex-Irish maiden who ran well on first run since leaving Daniel Murphy when fifth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (23.1f) 17 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: 00203-5

Farocco^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Dowson| T: M A Barnes| OR: 86

50/1

Scored at Perth in May but pulled up in novice hurdle after 5 months off at Hexham (20.1f) 30 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 328-16P

Fair Minx^h1²¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 86

50/1

Remains winless, and cheekpieces on for 1st time when pulled up in novice hurdle at Hexham (23.3f) 7 months ago. Hood on for her reappearance with something to prove.

Form: 4/0P5-VP

Any Job Will Do²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 84

50/1

Offered little after 6 months off when pulled up in handicap hurdle here (20.9f) 29 days ago. Has work to do if he's to gain a breakthrough success here.

Form: 74P-04P

Silk Or Scarlet^p,t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 83

14/1

Winner at Perth in May but well held after 6 months off when eighth of 14 in handicap here (20.9f) 29 days ago. Should strip fitter now, so he's no forlorn hope.

Form: F646-18

Forecasts

Grand Voyage (15/8), Geonice (9/4), Hungry Tiger (17/2), Fever Roque (12/1), Silk Or Scarlet (14/1), The Jad Factor (14/1), Well Cliche (14/1), Queen Of Fame (16/1), Definite Wisdom (28/1), Tartan Cookie (28/1), Any Job Will Do (50/1), Fair Minx (50/1), Farocco (50/1), Dr Shirocco (80/1)

A few with chances, but GEONICE comes here at the top of his game and is fancied to add to his Hexham success with Brian Hughes again in the saddle. Top weight Grand Voyage has still to get his head in front but is feared most on the back of his recent second here, with both Fever Roque and Queen of Fame high on the shortlist too.