13:50 Kelso

Saturday 4 March 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 3m 51.96s

Colonel Mustard⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Kieren Buckley⁽³⁾| T: L Fowler| OR: 143| D

6/1

Developed into a very useful hurdler last term, including third in the County at the Cheltenham Festival. Far form disgraced when reaching the frame in a pair of 2m maiden chases before Christmas but he will need a career best to defyh clear top weight back hurdling.

Form: 2337-42

Tritonic^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 137| D

14/1

Well-served by strongly-run race when landing valuable Betfair Exchange handicap at Ascot (2m) last winter. As good as ever on the Flat in 2022 (won at Goodwood in October) but below par in 2 hurdles this year. Being dropped another 4 lb can only help but others are still preferrred.

Form: 1400-98

Cormier³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Ellison| OR: 136| CD

22/1

Tough, dependable sort who won this race last year. Looked set for third when unseating at the last in Grade 2 novice chase at Doncaster last time. Only 2 lb above last year's successful mark and ought to be competiitve in defence of his crown.

Form: 17-U63U

Nayati²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135| BF| D

28/1

Has returned better than ever from a long lay-off, scoring readily at Bangor before bagging a nice prize at Musselburgh on New Year's Day, with Collingham 2 lengths back in second. Not in the same form when behind only fifth to his reopposing stablemate back there 4 weeks ago.

Form: 131615

Benson^p⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 134| D

11/1

Good start for this yard, runner-up 3 times prior to deservedly getting his head back in front at Musselburgh (2½m) on New Year's Day. The placed horses in that race have performed well since and he should be very competitive off 5 lb higher.

Form: 46-2221

Luttrell Lad¹⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: T Lacey| OR: 133| D

18/1

Useful bumper winner and of a similar standard over hurdles last season. Disappointing on the Flat for Philip Hobbs when last seen in the autumn but he retains potential as a hurdler now setting out for new trainer Tom Lacey. Very interesting to see how he goes in the betting.

Form: 4/1222-0

Mctigue⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 142

13/2

Useful on the Flat for Jim Bolger and very good start over hurdles in the autumn, including a Grade 2 success at Auteuil. Some way below that level in 2 outings at the end of 2022 but every chance he'll revive after a break for a much-feared Irish yard which won this race in 2021.

Form: 1169

L'eau Du Sud^t⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 131

9/1

Useful hurdler in France last season. Tongue tie refitted, shaped well at the second time of asking for new connections when third of 14 at Kempton over Christmas. Interesting runner for a top stable with a good record in the leading 2m handicap hurdles.

Form: F121-43

Wajaaha^p⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: P J McKenna| OR: 130| BF| D

33/1

Not long with this yard, running very well for second of 18 in Naas handicap 6 days ago. Looks to have a bit on his plate from his British mark, though.

Form: 123/122

Teddy Blue²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 130| D

10/3

Free-goer who landed short odds in 2m Lingfield maiden before running well for 12 lengths third of 16 in Betfair Hurdle at Newbury 3 weeks ago. Runs off 3 lb lower this time and ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 0-21313

Lebowski^t1²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: R Patrick| T: M Scudamore| OR: 127| D

33/1

Dual novice hurdle winner last season and got off the mark in handicaps at the second attempt with a taking success at Wetherby (2m again) on his reappearance. Raced too keenly when disappointing behind Collingham at Musselburgh. A tongue strap is reached for on the back of that.

Form: 11P0-19

Collingham²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Maggs⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125| D

14/1

Durable sort who has had a good season, bagging a nice prize at Musselburgh (2m, good) 3 weeks ago under promising 10 lb claimer Charlie Maggs. Every chance he'll give his running but will need another career best to defy his revised mark.

Form: 6-12321

Deere Mark⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: S Thomas| OR: 125| D

6/1

Going the right way over hurdles, making a successful start to his handicap career at Kempton (2m) 7 weeks ago. Raised 6 lb but he had something to spare and is likely capable of better again.

Form: 31-2811

Clear White Light^b1¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 123| BF| D

22/1

Hexham winner for Sandy Forster last spring and has continued to go the right way for this yard, winning handicaps around 2½m at Doncaster and Newcastle in recent months. In deeper now but he's thriving. Has blinkers added dropping back in trip.

Form: 1-35131

El Muchacho^h,t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris| OR: 123| BF| D

18/1

Point winner who has progressed nicely over hurdles, winning 2m handicaps at Plumpton and Catterick in January and losing out only narrowly on hat-trick bid back at Catterick 19 days ago. Nudged up another 4 lb, though.

Form: 432112

Thereisnodoubt^h,t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 122| CD

40/1

Well supported and back to his best when gaining his first success for current connections over C&D in January. Only a respectable third of 5 back here since, though. Others are much more obvious.

Form: 6-54313

Forecasts

Teddy Blue (10/3), Colonel Mustard (6/1), Deere Mark (6/1), Mctigue (13/2), L'eau Du Sud (9/1), Benson (11/1), Tritonic (14/1), Collingham (14/1), El Muchacho (18/1), Luttrell Lad (18/1), Clear White Light (22/1), Cormier (22/1), Nayati (28/1), Wajaaha (33/1), Lebowski (33/1), Thereisnodoubt (40/1)

A cracking renewal. Emmet Mullins sent out subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner The Shunter to take this in 2021 and has a very interesting contender in the shape of MCTIGUE, who ended 2022 with a couple of underwhelming efforts in good company but is well handicapped if he can get back to the level he attained when scoring in Grade 2 company in France in the autumn. Deere Mark has more to give and is feared most ahead of L'Eau du Sud, Teddy Boy and Benson.