16:45 Kelso

Saturday 4 March 2023

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

bet365 Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 4m 19.33s

Ritson^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 110

18/1

Fair hurdler who readily surpassed opening pair of chase exploits when running out a dominant winner at Newcastle on Boxing Day. However, not in same form when well held at Ayr (16.5f) 31 days ago.

Form: 42-5518

Unit Sixtyfour^t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Lorcan Williams| T: B Pauling| OR: 109| BF

10/3

Improved since tongue tied, winning handicap chases at Warwick/Fontwell, his jumping looking a real asset. Omitted fences probably no help with that in mind but he did again run well when third at latter-named venue 26 days ago. Should give another good account.

Form: 2-22113

Treshnish^p²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 107

22/1

Began the season in good heart, scoring at Hexham in November either side of creditable placed efforts. Laboured performances since, though, and jumping can often prove an issue. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 4-31235

Whodini^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 107

4/1

£60,000 purchase who made the frame both starts in bumpers and surpassed his exploits over hurdles (on back of wind op) to make winning handicap/chase debut at Newcastle (16.3f) 16 days ago. Type to do better again and strong possibilities from 5 lb higher mark.

Form: R43-441

Travail D'Orfevre^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 104| C

6/1

Bumper winner who opened account over hurdles here (18f) on final outing last spring. Good third on return/chase debut over C&D in October and back to that level when runner-up at Ayr (16.5f) latest despite a serious error 3 out. Not out of things.

Form: P1-35P2

Gandhi Maker⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: W Coltherd| OR: 103| D

5/2

Irish point winner who has bounced back to form reverted to front-running tactics, supplementing his Newcastle victory in January when easily making all at Sedgefield (17f) 9 days ago. 8 lb higher now but sound claims in hat-trick bid.

Form: P25P11

Bollingerandkrug^t¹³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 100| BF| C

15/2

Dual course winner. Last season was a struggle but he resumed with a couple of solid efforts in defeat in 2m handicap hurdles here in October. Returns over fences with yard going along nicely so no surprise to see him go well from a handy-looking mark.

Form: 555-632

Azof Des Mottes^t¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 90WS

10/1

Best effort over hurdles when runner-up on handicap debut at Wetherby (19.7f) 13 months ago but largely disappointed in that sphere since and others appeal more now sent chasing. Had wind op.

Form: P2P-9S8

Zihuatanejo³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 74

80/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler. Showed aptitude for chasing when fourth in 10-runner Ayr handicap (16.5f) on penultimate start but reported to have bled when fading out of things at Newcastle (16.3f) 32 days ago. 10 lb out of the weights here.

Form: 10/6846

Non-Runners

Edmond Dantes⁶⁸

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: Ruth Jefferson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Gandhi Maker (5/2), Unit Sixtyfour (10/3), Whodini (4/1), Travail D'Orfevre (6/1), Bollingerandkrug (15/2), Azof Des Mottes (10/1), Edmond Dantes (10/1), Ritson (18/1), Treshnish (22/1), Zihuatanejo (80/1)

A competitive finale with the vote in favour of WHODINI. A low-mileage 6-y-o, he continued his yard's good form when scoring on chase debut at Newcastle 16 days ago and with improvement likely, he could well follow up. The hat-trick seeking Gandhi Maker and Unit Sixtyfour head up the dangers, with Bollingerandkrug also of interest back over fences for his in-form yard.