13:50 Kelso

Thursday 3 February 2022

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

Racing To Work Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 40.4s

Chapel Stile^b1¹⁰³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 123

25/1

Back to form returned to fences with Carlisle win a year ago. Found out in better company when pulled up in Scottish National but ran no sort of race on return. Blinkers applied back hurdling.

Form: 8371P-6

Taxmeifyoucan^v¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 118| C| D

17/2

Has struggled for form in varied events since 3¼m Musselburgh win a year ago though caught the eye at Newcastle 16 days ago, so worth keeping an eye on with Brian Hughes retaining the ride.

Form: 5169-57

Silva Eclipse^b³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 115| D

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser at his best but not built on his return effort in 3 subsequent starts, including when back over hurdles at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Blinkers re-fitted and bit to prove.

Form: 15-57P8

Highland Sting¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J P Ryan| OR: 113

13/2

Lightly-raced sort. Opening mark looks a fair one on the pick of his form in maiden/novice hurdles. Well held at Thurles 11 days ago but yard is 3-9 with handicap hurdle debutants in last 12 months.

Form: 26P45

Milvale^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 110| C

9/2

Only win to date came in handicap here (23f) off 5 lb higher 2 years ago but not far off his best fitted with this headgear when third here (23f) 5 weeks ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 4345-03

Final Reminder²⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: C O'Farrell| T: N W Alexander| OR: 110| BF

18/1

Didn't take to chasing last term but back on track over hurdles in May, causing 50/1 shock at Ayr prior to a good third at Cartmel later that month. Has gone well fresh previously.

Form: 3/5P7-13

Kaizer¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 106| C

5/2

Respectable fifth in first-time cheekpieces here over Christmas and followed that up with a good second at Newcastle (without headgear). Player on current form.

Form: 4-57F52

Dequall^b¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 97| CD

5/2

Didn't take to fences in December and he was rather laboured back hurdling at Wetherby, but latest third in this headgear at Newcastle was more encouraging and he has been eased another 2 lb.

Form: 255736

Non-Runners

Off The Hook⁴⁷

Weight: 10-12| Age: 10

T: N W Alexander J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Kaizer (5/2), Dequall (5/2), Milvale (9/2), Off The Hook (5/1), Highland Sting (13/2), Taxmeifyoucan (17/2), Final Reminder (18/1), Silva Eclipse (25/1), Chapel Stile (25/1)

It could be worth chancing DEQUALL, who went with a little more fluency tried in blinkers at Newcastle and is lurking on a handy mark with Peter Kavanagh taking off an additional 7 lb. Milvale seems to save his best efforts for this track and responded well to this headgear last time, while Irish-raider Highland Sting must be respected given his yard's record with handicap-hurdle debutants.