12:45 Kelso

Friday 29 December 2023

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:2815:0215:32

Slainte Mhath Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:46 | Winning time: 6m 28.86s

Schalke^v1¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 122| CD

7/1

Won this race 12 months ago. Wasn't far off his best when midfield in a valuable 3m handicap at Haydock in November and perhaps just didn't take to cheekpieces (discarded in favour of visor) when last at Carlisle since. Remains 6 lb above last year's mark but William Maggs takes 7 lb off.

Form: 214-898

Hashtag Boum³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 114| BF| CD

10/3

Irish point winner who opened her Rules account in decisive fashion in C&D handicap in April. Badly hampered when sixth at Market Rasen in May and resumed her progression when going down only narrowly at Sedgefield 6 months later. Respected back here.

Form: 2321-62

Imaginary Dragon³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 110

9/2

Lightly-raced 5-y-o who made a solid start to his handicap career for new trainer Sandy Thomson when second of 12 over 2m at Newcastle 36 days ago. Up significantly in trip. Unexposed.

Form: P/303-2

Paddy The Horse⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 110

33/1

Point winner who scored twice over hurdles at Hexham last autumn. Also placed over fences at Carlisle in the spring. Should be sharper for chase reappearance here 7 weeks ago and on a workable mark back hurdling.

Form: 1F43P-4

Dunnet Head¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: I Jardine| OR: 110| BF

7/1

Made a winning debut in a bumper at this track in October 2022 and came back from a breathing operation and a 9-month absence to justify favouritism on his handicap debut at Carlisle (17f, soft) in November. Something can't have been right at Ayr next time and worth another chance.

Form: 142-18

Kingston Bridge³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 109| C

15/2

Bumper winner who showed a likeable attitude to get off the mark in a Carlisle maiden (19f, soft) in March. Placed in 2 of his 3 handicaps since, impressing with the way he travelled when third over 2½m at Hexham (heavy) last month. Considered now stepping up in trip.

Form: 4312-63

Mack The Man¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 108

12/1

Four-time winner over hurdles for Evan Williams. Off 9 months, looked rusty when 12 lengths sixth of 11 on 20.5f Ayr stable debut 18 days ago. Likely to be sharper now.

Form: 5/5453-6

So Many Roads³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: D W Whillans| OR: 101| BF

3/1

Much improved when justifying support on handicap debut in 17-runner contest at Ayr (20.5f, heavy) in January. This season's 2 efforts no more than respectable but might just be working his way back to peak fitness.

Form: 561F-64

Forecasts

So Many Roads (3/1), Hashtag Boum (10/3), Imaginary Dragon (9/2), Dunnet Head (7/1), Schalke (7/1), Kingston Bridge (15/2), Mack The Man (12/1), Paddy The Horse (33/1)

This looks competitive. DUNNET HEAD can't have been right last time and might be worth another chance as his Carlisle win prior to that was promising. Hashtag Boum shaped encouragingly at Sedgefield last time and is much respected back at the scene of her win in April. Imaginary Dragon should also get involved if his stamina holds now stepping up in trip, while Kingston Bridge also shaped well at Hexham last time.