14:00 Kelso

Monday 15 April 2024

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:35

Belhaven Brewery Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:03 | Winning time: 4m 42.10s

Alnilam⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 125| C

8/11

Fairly useful winner on the Flat who left behind his hurdling debut form when easily landing 2m novice here in February. Not up to the Grade 2 Premier over C&D since but this is a lot easier for new yard. Key player.

Form: 417

Johnny Dogs^h1¹⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett

22/1

Off the mark in Irish points and followed up on his Rules/hurdles debut at Market Rasen (20.5f) in June. Too headstrong when distant fourth under a penalty here (22.5f) 7 months later and now drops significantly in trip with a hood also added. Work to do.

Form: FP51-14

Ozzy Cosmo^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander

7/1

Fourth sole start in Irish points and promising start under Rules when landing 12-runner 2m Ayr novice in December (second has won twice since). Looked beaten when falling 3 out over further back there 5 weeks ago but remains with potential and tackles interim trip here for in-form yard.

Form: 441F

Beat The Boum⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs J Stephen

150/1

Hasn't shown much in 2 starts under Rules so far and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 43P

Dollar Collar³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 121

3/1

£30,000 purchase after winning an Irish point in October and much improved second time of asking under Rules when landing 2m Hexham maiden hurdle in the mud last month (odds-on second won next time). More to come and this longer trip will suit.

Form: F-7121

Racquet Club⁶⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer

150/1

Three runs on the Flat for Johnny Murtagh in spring 2022, showing promise on the third occasion. Off for nearly 2 years ahead of this switch to hurdles.

Form:

Rock N Roll Champ⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss S E Forster

125/1

€14,000 3-y-o, Champs Elysees gelding. Half-brother to 4 winners, including useful chaser Another Stowaway and fair hurdler/useful chase winner Sholokjack. Maiden in Irish points.

Form: 8-43P6

The Roc Hopper^h1¹⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs J Stephen

150/1

Well held in bumper at Hexham/novice hurdle at Ayr. Hood goes on.

Form: 70

Tigga Time⁷⁶

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

9/2

£30,000 buy after making a successful sole start in points. Has offered a bit in Catterick bumper and Newcastle novice hurdle and should do better in time.

Form: 1-35

Wainwright¹⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Callum Bewley| T: N G Richards

66/1

Showed a bit when 17 lengths sixth of 8 starting out in a 2m maiden here in October. Failed to match that form at Hexham a month later. Looks more one for handicaps after this.

Form: 67

Midnight Alnwicky⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: A Nicol

150/1

Sent off big odds and no impact in all 3 starts over hurdles.

Form: P0P

National Question³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: D R Fox| T: A Nicol

150/1

Brother to a useful hurdler but has shown just modest form at best on the Flat and been well held in 2 spins over hurdles.

Form: 95

Forecasts

Alnilam (8/11), Dollar Collar (3/1), Tigga Time (9/2), Ozzy Cosmo (7/1), Johnny Dogs (22/1), Wainwright (66/1), Rock N Roll Champ (125/1), Beat The Boum (150/1), Midnight Alnwicky (150/1), National Question (150/1), Racquet Club (150/1), The Roc Hopper (150/1)

ALNILAM will find this much easier than the Grade 2 Premier he contested here last month and can get back on track with victory. Dollar Collar, who beat a subsequent winner at Hexham, and Ozzy Cosmo are the dangers.