Virgin Bet Standard NH Flat Race (Conditional Jockeys' And Amateur Riders' Race) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:13 | Winning time: 4m 14.48s

Kingston Bridge²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: Ewan Whillans| D

15/8

Probably didn't achieve a great deal in terms of bare form when landing a Kelso bumper (16.2f, good to soft) on debut but he did it decisively. Obvious claims under a penalty.

Form: 1

Both Barrels

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: D W Whillans

9/1

Saddler's Rock gelding. Dam ran once in bumper. Doesn't appeal as a probable first-time-out winner on paper.

Form:

Flaxfield^t1¹⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr C P Millar⁽⁷⁾| T: N Slevin

7/1

Placed on second of his 2 starts between the flags but this Irish raider offered little on Rules debut in a Slligo bumper in July. Tongue strap added.

Form: 6-30

Largy Valley^t1³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Stephen Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford

9/2

Out of a fair 2m hurdle winner, who was also successful at around 1½m on the Flat (stayed 2m). Pulled up sole start between the flags but his yard's runners in bumpers on these shores always command respect.

Form: P

Bluebell Glen

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander

13/2

Blue Bresil filly. Dam, 2m-21f hurdle/chase winner, a half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser (stays 3m) Clan Legend. Yard saddled the winner of this race in 2020 and market check advised.

Form:

Grey Moss

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Mr Jack Holliday⁽⁷⁾| T: W Coltherd

28/1

Proclamation mare. Dam 2½m hurdle winner (stayed 27f). Yard just 1-31 in bumpers in recent years and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form:

Jims Apple³⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁷⁾| T: J EwartWS

4/1

Runner-up on 2 of his 4 completed starts in maiden points. Has undergone a wind op ahead of this Rules debut and worth a second look in the betting, for all that his yard is not synonymous with bumper winners.

Form: 5F/224-

Forecasts

Kingston Bridge (15/8), Jims Apple (4/1), Largy Valley (9/2), Bluebell Glen (13/2), Flaxfield (7/1), Both Barrels (9/1), Grey Moss (28/1)

Though he probably didn't beat much on debut at Kelso, KINGSTON BRIDGE may well be capable of defying a penalty in a race of this nature. It will be interesting to see which way Bluebell Glen and Largy Valley both go in the betting, with the former tentatively nominated as the main danger.