15:10 Kelso

Wednesday 8 May 2024

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4516:2016:5517:25

William Hill Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 5m 12.93s

Jake Stevens¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Neville| OR: 100

14/1

Failed to threaten both starts between the flags but was still in touch when falling 3 out at Sedgefield on hurdles debut and found only one too good there 19 days later. Beaten by more than the longer trip when last seen and he's an interesting handicap newcomer persevered with over the distance.

Form: 555F24-

Ritson^v³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 98

20/1

Badly out of sorts over fences since scoring on Boxing Day in 2022 and looks easy to oppose reverting to hurdling.

Form: 9/77338-

Faithfulflyer^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 98| C

9/2

Failed to fully fire last season and though he did shape better than distance beaten suggests over this C&D last time, his finishing efforts are becoming a repeated issue. Others make more appeal.

Form: 2/30750-

Longstone Cowboy³⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Ross Chapman| T: H Burns| OR: 95

50/1

Runner-up in a Hexham maiden hurdle on his second start under Rules and ran well again when third in a C&D novice 12 days later. Failed to complete both outings last spring, though, and has plenty to prove on return from a year off.

Form: 6323FP/

Call Me Jack²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 92

3/1

Progressive when winning 3 out of 4 starts in handicaps, looking more professional and impressing with the manner he was able to recover from significant interference from a loose horse when scoring at Newcastle (20.3f, heavy, 11/4) 25 days ago. Lots to like about his chances again.

Form: 051211-

The Blame Game¹⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 92

33/1

All 3 career victories gained at Sedgefield, capitalising on a falling mark there (3m3f) last February. Found to be lame when pulled up here 3 months later and lost action again at Musselburgh 160 days ago, so looks best watched on return.

Form: PP51/PP-

Beat The Boum²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 91

22/1

Made frame in an Irish point and ran to only a poor level when fifth of 12 in novice hurdle at this course (18.1f, good to soft, 150/1) 23 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut from stiff-looking mark.

Form: 43P5-

Pateen^v,t²⁴⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: J Bedi| OR: 89

33/1

Largely in decent heart last spring, winning at Hexham in May. Well into the veteran stage of his career but has gone well fresh and isn't fully discounted after 8 months off.

Form: 852634-

Sword Of Fate¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: L Kerr| OR: 88| D

16/1

Scored over fences at Perth (20f) in August and backed that up with good second at Cartmel. Seemingly in a lull this spring, though, and others are preferred switched back to hurdling.

Form: 260345-

Dirk Gently^v,t²¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 86

14/1

Placed in handicaps at Uttoxeter and Worcester last summer. Temperament has long been under suspicion, though, and others make greater appeal on his return from 7 months off.

Form: P3/332P-

Monty Nevett³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 85

12/1

Little form over hurdles for either Jedd O'Keeffe or for his current yard.

Form: 390750-

Boot 'n' Shoe^t1,p1⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 85

9/1

Reached the frame in a couple of AW bumpers early-2022 but hasn't threatened in a handful of appearances at around 2m over hurdles. Now makes his handicap debut off a realistic mark and it'll be interesting to see how he shapes up in the betting. Tongue strap/cheekpieces applied.

Form: 24/896-

Fiadh^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 84

28/1

Won over 3m at Wetherby last March but has showed very little recently since returning from an 11-month absence. Passed over.

Form: 516/PP9-

Bolt Man⁴²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: I A Duncan| OR: 84

14/1

Mid-field in 2 staying handicap hurdles last spring. Will likely need to up his game on return from 14-month absence.

Form: 3P6476/

Arctic Lodge³²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 84

6/1

Ex-pointer made little impact over hurdles and produced a shoddy round of jumping at Stratford on chase debut last summer. Back over the smaller obstacles after 10-month break.

Form: 2P544/4-

Bullion Boss^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 84

14/1

Modest handicap hurdler at best but little show in 2 runs in March following lengthy absence.

Form: 34P3/96-

Forecasts

Call Me Jack (3/1), Faithfulflyer (9/2), Arctic Lodge (6/1), Boot 'n' Shoe (9/1), Monty Nevett (12/1), Bullion Boss (14/1), Bolt Man (14/1), Dirk Gently (14/1), Jake Stevens (14/1), Sword Of Fate (16/1), Ritson (20/1), Beat The Boum (22/1), Fiadh (28/1), Pateen (33/1), The Blame Game (33/1), Longstone Cowboy (50/1)

CALL ME JACK has thrived since switching to handicaps and is a clear standout on recent form. Handicap newcomer Jake Stevens rates as the biggest threat, with Faithfulflyer a modest pick for third.