11:53 Kelso

Thursday 29 December 2022

All11:5312:2813:0313:3814:1314:4815:20

AJA Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase

Off time: 11:53 | Winning time: 7m 26.40s

Smackwater Jack²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr James King| T: O Murphy| OR: 122

11/2

Fairly useful winning hurdler who made an encouraging start over fences when second in a 25f handicap at Aintree in October 2020. Caught the eye following over 2 years off when fifth at Chepstow earlier this month and he has to enter calculations with an experienced amateur booked.

Form: 47F52/5

Juge Et Parti^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr Lyall Hodgins⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 119

14/1

Did well in handicap chases last season, winning twice over 3m. Recent hurdling return at Wetherby was presumably a pipe-opener (had a wind op in the interim) and he should be much closer to form today with the cheekpieces back on.

Form: 13434-4

Thunderosa^p,t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr Simon Cavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: J Bedi| OR: 115

33/1

Just the one standout effort over fences so far and having been well backed, proved to be a disappointment at Down Royal (26.2f, good) 8 months ago. Back from a point spin for new yard but others preferred.

Form: 73U5-65

Rath An Iuir³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 114

4/1

Useful chaser at his best but operates below that level nowadays, though did step up on his reappearance when fifth of 9 in handicap chase (10/1) at Carlisle (24.5f, good to soft) 32 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 564P-85

Hold The Note²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 112| C

17/2

Finally took advantage of a much-reduced mark after 5 months off at this course (23.4f, soft, 14/1) 25 days ago, rallying to lead run-in. That was a tough race but he should be in the mix with a repeat effort.

Form: P33-4P1

Camp Belan³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112| CD

5/2

Back on the up when second at Ayr in October and built on that promise back up in trip when winning over C&D 5 weeks ago, leading 2 out and just kept up to his work. 3 lb rise fair and he's fancied to be in the shake-up.

Form: 22U7-21

Glittering Love^b³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Power⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 111| D

9/1

Largely campaigned over fences in recent seasons, notching fifth success in that sphere at Carlisle last December. Shaped as if better for the run on return over timber at this track 5 weeks ago and he could be in the mix back over the larger obstacles.

Form: 1642P-6

Donna's Delight^p²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: A M Thomson| OR: 110

16/1

Lightly raced since scoring twice in early 2020 but he failed to take a step forward from his reappearance at this course (32.4f, soft) earlier this month so now has questions to answer all of a sudden.

Form: 1/P52-5P

Prince Dundee^p,t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Gregor Walkingshaw⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 108

14/1

Enhanced excellent record at Hexham when landing 6-runner handicap over 3m in June. Not in quite the same form back from 4 months off over C&D in October and turned in a rare poor effort back at Hexham just over 6 weeks ago. Bounce back required.

Form: 4-3212P

Along Long Story²¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 107

50/1

Made a winning chasing debut at Thurles back in March but little to shout about since (including over hurdles when last seen 7 months ago). Has since left Sean Aherne and a watching brief is advised.

Form: 0341-50

Morozov Cocktail^b⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr William Easterby| T: T D Easterby| OR: 105

6/1

Ended last term with win in 6-runner handicap chase at Newcastle (23.4f) 8 months ago and predictably looked rusty on his return to action at Catterick just under 6 weeks ago. Blinkers back on today and should be much closer to form.

Form: 53P21-5

Forecasts

Camp Belan (5/2), Rath An Iuir (4/1), Smackwater Jack (11/2), Morozov Cocktail (6/1), Hold The Note (17/2), Glittering Love (9/1), Prince Dundee (14/1), Juge Et Parti (14/1), Donna's Delight (16/1), Thunderosa (33/1), Along Long Story (50/1)

SMACKWATER JACK caught the eye reappearing from an absence of just over 2 years when fifth at Chepstow earlier this month, seeming to finish with running left. With this step back up in trip in his favour and an experienced amateur booked, Olly Murphy's charge is fancied to come out on top. Hold The Note finally took advantage of a much-reduced mark here earlier this month so he heads up the dangers, ahead of Camp Belan and Morozov Cocktail.