14:15 Kelso

Saturday 22 October 2022

All13:0513:4014:1514:4815:2316:0016:3517:10

Clifford, Martin & Sarah Firth Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 6m 8.45s

Domandlouis¹⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105| C

9/4

Bred more for stamina than speed and displayed much-improved form when landing 6-runner novice here in May. Dam from family of yard's Kelso specialist Big River and he's switched straight to a handicap over fences on return. Makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 935F-1

Voyburg^p,t1¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 102

10/1

Fair winning hurdler but fitted with cheekpieces and failed to negotiate the first successfully on chase debut 18 days ago. Tongue tie added.

Form: 1332-PU

Get With It^t⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 100

9/2

Didn't need to improve to finally get off the mark in 6-runner handicap chase at Perth in July. Tied up late after a break last time but can remain competitive at this level.

Form: 5-94212

Ceolwulf³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: Chris McSharry| OR: 100

20/1

Fair bumper performer but largely underwhelming over hurdles and is now hiked up markedly in trip switched to the larger obstacles.

Form: 2323-86

Morningside¹⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 92

8/1

Upped his game over fences in 2022, runner-up at Southwell and Kelso early this year. Ran to similar level when fourth at Perth when last seen in May and eased 2 lb since.

Form: 40224-4

Shoughall's Boy²¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Coltherd| T: H Graham & G Rutherford| OR: 90

16/1

Back-to-back wins in 20f Hexham handicap hurdles to end 2021. Unable to continue the good work to end the campaign and now upped in trip on reappearance switched to fences.

Form: 7/P1139-

Matchmaking¹²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: B S Hughes| T: L Morgan| OR: 83| BF

10/3

One-time fairly useful Flat winner who landed back-to-back basement handicaps over hurdles. Checked out tamely in hat-trick bid in June and now goes chasing for successful new yard. Interesting.

Form: 0841-19

Bannside²¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: I A Duncan| OR: 82

8/1

Glimmer of ability over hurdles but behind when falling on chase debut in March and off since.

Form: 97676F-

Diamond Road^t1⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: S Mulqueen| T: Mrs J C McGregor| OR: 66

300/1

Yet to show any worthwhile form.

Form: 6PP/0-P5

Forecasts

Domandlouis (9/4), Matchmaking (10/3), Get With It (9/2), Morningside (8/1), Bannside (8/1), Voyburg (10/1), Shoughall's Boy (16/1), Ceolwulf (20/1), Diamond Road (300/1)

There should be plenty more to come from DOMANDLOUIS, particularly as his stamina is drawn out switched to fences, and he may out outclass this modest bunch. Get With It has been in top form at Perth of late and is second choice, though Matchmaking needs a check in the betting starting out for an excellent yard.