14:05 Kelso

Saturday 5 March 2022

All13:0013:3214:0514:4015:1515:4316:25

bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 12.80s

Wilde About Oscar^p1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 141

9/1

Smart novice hurdler last term who faded after travelling well for long way on 2½m Aintree reappearance. Nowhere near that level twice since but cheekpieces now on and given a chance by the assessor.

Form: 110-674

Flash The Steel^t¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

28/1

Career-best effort when landing Newbury handicap in November 2020. Missed all of last year and pulled on February's reappearance so has a fair bit to prove at present.

Form: 09/2F1-P

Elvis Mail¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: N W Alexander| OR: 137| BF| C

6/1

Useful hurdler/chaser with good record at this track, barely adequate test when runner-up to Stainsby Girl in brace of 2m handicaps here of late. Step back up in trip will suit but this a deeper race.

Form: 2F-5422

N'Golo^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 131

11/1

Useful performer in his pomp for Willie Mullins and, while he struggled on the Flat in the autumn, he made a respectable stable debut when fourth at Haydock. Held back by his jumping at Ascot.

Form: 9093-47

One Night In Milan²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 127| CD

9/1

Back from the Flat with good efforts at Wetherby and Musselburgh to end 2021. Unable to continue the good work since.

Form: 8P-4285

Get Out The Gate^t¹⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 126| BF

33/1

Landed back-to-back Perth handicaps over fences in July, latterly in taking fashion to score by 14 lengths. Off since September and lower hurdles mark looks justified.

Form: 001124

Democratic Oath⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 120| BF

18/1

Fairly useful winner over hurdles who faced a stiff task from 13 lb out of the handicap on chase/yard debut at Newcastle. Pulled up at Ayr since and quickly back over timber.

Form: 3516-3P

Aurora Thunder³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120

10/1

Back to form when landing 8-runner event at Musselburgh in January and emerged with plenty of credit when rallying for second having been hampered over C&D a month ago.

Form: 342P12

Famous Bridge³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 118| BF

15/8

Third in an Irish bumper and made his second hurdle start a winning one at Ayr in November. Allotted a lenient mark but failed to take advantage over C&D latest, unseating rider. More to come.

Form: 3-212U

Kaizer³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 115| C

9/2

Down in the weights and confirmed the promise of his Newcastle run when landing 8-runner handicap over 25.8f here a month ago. Retains handicap scope so has to be of interest.

Form: 57F521

Non-Runners

Hart Of Steel³⁵

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: D McCain Jnr J: Non Runner

Native Fighter¹⁴³

Weight: 10-9| Age: 8

T: James Moffatt J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Famous Bridge (15/8), Hart Of Steel (4/1), Kaizer (9/2), Elvis Mail (6/1), One Night In Milan (9/1), Wilde About Oscar (9/1), Aurora Thunder (10/1), N'Golo (11/1), Democratic Oath (18/1), Native Fighter (20/1), Flash The Steel (28/1), Get Out The Gate (33/1)

Having been awarded a generous mark, FAMOUS BRIDGE fluffed his lines when unseating his rider over C&D a month ago but compensation may well await. Kaizer won over further on the same card and he has to be feared, while WIlde About Oscar adds a touch of class to the race.