14:25 Kelso

Saturday 4 March 2023

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

bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 20.32s

Accidental Rebel^p,t¹⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132

16/1

Winner of 4 of his 5 starts since joining this yard last year, taking form to a new level when landing the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow (19.4f) with cheekpieces added in October. Absent since but evidently goes well fresh and while this demands more under a penalty, he merits respect.

Form: P-11121

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Banjaxed²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Kieren Buckley| T: L Fowler

50/1

Runner-up on the first of his 2 starts in bumpers and also found just one too good starting out over hurdles in 15-runner Navan maiden (2m) last month. Likely to win races in due course but probably biting off more than he can chew here.

Form: 2-52

Carcaci Castle^t⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 123| C

9/1

Has quickly made into a useful hurdler for new connections, readily bagging 2m novice events here this winter. Latest piece of form is working out well (second and third have both won in good style since) and it's likely that he has more to offer.

Form: 461-11

Colonel Harry^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 128

7/2

Decisive winner of a 2m Sandown maiden hurdle in November before an excellent fourth in the Tolworth over the same C&D in January. Cosily beat a pretty useful-looking subsequent winner in Newcastle novice last time and ought to make his presence felt.

Form: F1-2141

Feronily²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins

5/1

Successful sole start in points and placed both starts under Rules in Leopardstown bumpers, latterly finishing third in a Grade 2. Big ask for him to make a winning hurdles debut at this level but shrewd Irish yard does very well with raiders on these shores and he's probably useful.

Form: 123

General Officer²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 124

25/1

Winning pointer who landed back-to-back novice events at Musselburgh before Christmas. Not disgraced when chasing home a potentially useful Flat recruit there last month but he looks vulnerable now upped in class.

Form: 1-31122

Hoe Joly Smoke²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 120

20/1

Successful sole outing between the flags and promising start under Rules when runner-up in a Chepstow maiden in October. Again shaped well when third at the same course next time and there are almost certainly races to be won with him over hurdles but this demands a significant step forward.

Form: 1-23

Lookaway⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 115

10/1

Dual bumper winner (including Aintree Grade 2 last spring) who shaped encouragingly despite taking too long to settle when third on return/hurdles debut in a Warwick novice (21f) in November. Couldn't build on that at Haydock later that month, though, and others make more appeal.

Form: 111-34

Nemean Lion⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 131

4/1

Useful stayer on the Flat in France for Andre Fabre in 2020 and looked an exciting prospect when making a successful debut over hurdles at Hereford. Placed both subsequent starts, including in the Tolworth at Sandown (2m) last time, and he's a key player.

Form: 123

Snake Roll⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 125| C

4/1

Wide-margin winner of 2m maiden on Rules debut here in October and posted another clear-cut, all-the-way success in a 20.2f Newcastle novice on Boxing Day. However, limitations seemingly exposed in a Warwick Grade 2 last time.

Form: 42-1315

The Wounded Knee^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Neville| OR: 132

40/1

Placed both starts in points and progressive form over hurdles, recording a brace of Perth wins (maiden and handicap) prior to a solid effort when second in a Cheltenham novice in October. Probably best to overlook his latest run and he remains open to improvement.

Form: 3-31128

Forecasts

Colonel Harry (7/2), Nemean Lion (4/1), Snake Roll (4/1), Feronily (5/1), Carcaci Castle (9/1), Lookaway (10/1), Accidental Rebel (16/1), Hoe Joly Smoke (20/1), General Officer (25/1), The Wounded Knee (40/1), Banjaxed (50/1)

CARCACI CASTLE made it 3-4 under Rules and 2-2 here when outpointing next-time-out winners Traprain Law and Fortescue Wood (front 3 well clear of the rest) in a 2m novice event in December. He looks ready for this step up in class and get the nod ahead of Nemean Lion, who sets the standard on the strength of his effort in the Tolworth at Sandown. Colonel Harry, who was a place adrift of Nemean Lion in the Tolworth, also has claims and hurdles debutant Feronily is an intriguing candidate.