Kelso Betting Ring Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:34 | Winning time: 4m 13.29s

Stainsby Girl¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 129| CD

5/2

Made a winning debut for this yard at Haydock in November before posting a good fifth there 16 days ago given she raced freely. Likeable sort who took this contest 12 months ago so she's a player once more.

Form: 4211-15

Enemy Coast Ahead^t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 121| D

28/1

Landed a hat-trick of novice events in summer 2020 for Olly Murphy. Only 5 starts since and he came in a well-held ninth on yard debut here 17 days ago. Needs a big step forward.

Form: 16/642-9

Excelcius^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 118| D

40/1

Fairly useful hurdler for Thomas Mullins in Ireland, successful 3 times in 2021. However, he's yet to fire in 3 starts for his new yard and was tried in cheekpieces when sixth at Musselburgh 14 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 051-F56

Thereisnodoubt^h,t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 116| D

9/4

Winless since 2020 but he comes here on the back of a good third of 10 in handicap hurdle (14/1) at Musselburgh (15.6f, soft) 14 days ago. Not ruled out off an easing mark.

Form: 266-543

Wor Verge^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR: 115| BF| CD

12/1

Landed back-to-back 17f Carlisle handicaps in October but only fourth of 6 in handicap there 49 days ago. This C&D winner could easily bounce back after a break.

Form: 79-8114

McGowan's Pass^p¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 109| D

6/1

Without a victory since early 2020 but he wasn't disgraced when third of 9 in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Leicester (15.5f, heavy) 18 days ago. No forlorn hope off a falling mark.

Form: 7333-63

Beat Box^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 106| D

5/2

Has returned in excellent nick after a breathing op, readily landing 9-runner handicap hurdle at Ayr (16f, good to soft) 24 days ago despite getting loose to post. Up 7 lb but still holds leading claims.

Form: 0154-21

Forecasts

Thereisnodoubt (9/4), Beat Box (5/2), Stainsby Girl (5/2), McGowan's Pass (6/1), Wor Verge (12/1), Enemy Coast Ahead (28/1), Excelcius (40/1)

This looks to rest between BEAT BOX and last year's winner Stainsby Girl with preference for James Ewart's revitalised 7-y-o who scored readily at Ayr last time despite getting loose to post and can defy a 7 lb rise in the weights. Nick Alexander's likeable mare rates a big threat though, with C&D winner Wor Verge appealing as the pick of the rest.