13:50 Kelso

Sunday 14 January 2024

All12:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:50

Racing TV Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 0.50s

Valence D'Aumont⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 115| C

33/1

Enhanced good strike rate over fences when landing a Newcastle handicap in December 2021 but well held both starts over hurdles this season after nearly 2 years off.

Form: 5F41/88

Arctic Ambition¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Paul Robson| OR: 113| D

40/1

Lost his way for Gordon Elliott and capitulated in even more alarming fashion on his first outing for this yard at Haydock 2 weeks ago.

Form: 33300P

Duo D'Enfer^t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 111| D

11/2

Fairly useful winning handicap chaser in 2022/23 in France. Claimed for €13,001 in April and off the mark at the third attempt for this yard at Sedgefield 19 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 453-631

Dancewiththewind²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: H Graham & G Rutherford| OR: 110| C

8/1

Twice a winner over hurdles last season but he's made an inauspicious start to his chasing career, though latest third at Musselburgh was at least a step in the right direction.

Form: 175-5P3

Tupelo Mississippi^p⁹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: S Mulqueen| T: B Ellison| OR: 108

11/1

Dual bumper/maiden hurdle winner who was runner-up for the fourth time over fences at Hexham in May. Well backed but below par last 2 starts after 5 months off.

Form: 326-245

Uptown Harry^p²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 103| C

18/1

Ridden positively and took full advantage of a drop in the weights when landing 9-runner handicap chase at Carlisle (20f) in March. More miss than hit nowadays, however, and ran no sort of race both starts this term.

Form: 5/551-07

Without Conviction^t⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 103

11/1

Resumed winning ways from a much-reduced mark at Ayr (3m, good) in March and returned to a similar level after 5 months off when neck second over C&D (good). Backed that up when runner-up at Hexham and trip might have stretched her back here (26f, heavy) since.

Form: 41-P224

Deep Charm²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 100

4/1

Largely struggled last season but back to form with a bang when scoring at Sedgefield and Musselburgh in recent months. Should make a bold bid for the hat-trick.

Form: 3PF-P11

Artic Row^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N W Alexander| OR: 100

9/4

Saddle slipped early doors on chase bow before justifying market confidence at Ayr in good style. Already a much better chaser than hurdler and has more to offer still.

Form: F77-3P1

Firth Of Forth^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 96

11/1

Fair maiden hurdler but hasn't been in much form in that sphere and well beaten on chase bow at Newcastle last month.

Form: P6-2036

Azof Des Mottes^t²²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 89| CD

12/1

Looked value for extra when winning 14-runner handicap chase (11/2) over C&D (good) in April, idling in front but impressing with his progress on the bridle. Respectable third at Hexham in June but off since.

Form: S8451-3

Non-Runners

Massini Man⁶⁴

Weight: 11-9| Age: 11

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Pookie Pekan⁴⁵

Weight: 11-6| Age: 11

T: W Coltherd J: Jamie Hamilton

Forecasts

Artic Row (9/4), Deep Charm (4/1), Massini Man (5/1), Duo D'Enfer (11/2), Dancewiththewind (8/1), Tupelo Mississippi (11/1), Without Conviction (11/1), Firth Of Forth (11/1), Azof Des Mottes (12/1), Uptown Harry (18/1), Pookie Pekan (25/1), Valence D'Aumont (33/1), Arctic Ambition (40/1)

MASSINI MAN would probably have gone close to winning but for departing over this C&D 9 weeks ago so can make amends off an unchanged mark. Deep Charm is the obvious threat as he bids for the hat-trick, with Artic Row also high on the shortlist.