15:20 Kelso

Saturday 26 October 2024

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

William Hill Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 0.13s

Ballyfort^h,t²²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 109

18/1

Shaped with plenty of promise in novice hurdles last season, including over course and distance in February. This big field handicap will suit his strong travelling style and is a likely player if ready to go after 7 month break.

Form: 23/5635-

Old Gregorian^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105| CD

20/1

Made a successful debut over hurdles after 6 months off in a course and distance maiden a year ago, beating one who won his next 2 starts. Mixed fortunes since but could go well with rust shaken off at Perth last month with the tongue strap refitted today.

Form: 2/1P3P-6

Moonlight Glory²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 105| D

33/1

Failed to build on an encouraging Sedgefield fifth when filling the same place at Hexham 22 days ago. Yard is still a little quiet but lurks on a dangerous mark if able to find her best here.

Form: F90-055

Bashful^t,p⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 105| D

18/1

Progressive in hurdles last season, improving to double his tally in this sphere at Musselburgh (15.5f) in February. Operating below best on the Flat in recent months though a return to this discipline may well have a positive effect now.

Form: 234/411-

Dog Fox^t1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 106

15/2

Strong traveller who was better than the result on latest start at Southwell 23 days ago, making a mistake at a crucial time. Form of that race is working out well and a major player if able to minimise the jumping errors. Tongue strap on for the first time today.

Form: 53-2154

Jumping Jupiter^t1⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 103| D

12/1

Opened his account at Hexham in May but a below form sixth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Bangor (19.6f, good) 50 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time with more required.

Form: 3/3P-216

Ninetofive⁵²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 100

11/1

Came third in a Hexham novice back in May 2023 (which has worked out well) despite finishing lame. Has been off since so plenty to prove but can feature if retaining ability.

Form: 33429/3-

Trailblazer^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁷⁾| T: A Nicol| OR: 100| D

25/1

Made a bright start to hurdling career, including a second over course and distance in January this year. Bounced back from a couple of disappointing runs over the summer when 4th of 11 at Sedgefield 25 days ago and give a fair account here.

Form: 23-1774

Foster's Fortune²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny McMenamin| T: C Grant| OR: 98

9/2

Improved greatly for the switch into handicaps when winning in May and then a reappearance second of 11 over the same course and distance at Sedgefield (16.8f, good, 13/2) 25 days ago. Likely to feature off only a 1lb higher mark.

Form: 7674-12

Evenwood Sonofagun^t⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 98

18/1

Long standing maiden now with fourth trainer having left Fergal O’Brien following respectable fifth of 15 in selling handicap hurdle (8/1) at Stratford (18.7f, good) 49 days ago. Likely to be competitive but tough ask to break his duck here today.

Form: 39-4205

Jet Patrol^h¹³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: A M Thomson| OR: 95| BF

25/1

Placed twice from 5 starts in Irish points and has shown ability in a handful of runs over hurdles. Appealed as the type to do better over fences but fell at Hexham (15.6f, good to soft) on chase debut in June and needs to learn to settle to feature on return to hurdles here.

Form: 2P344-F

Theirshegoes²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 94| D

15/2

Creditable third of 11 in handicap hurdle at this course (20.9f, good to soft) 20 days ago having proven consistent at this level last season. Claims back down in trip.

Form: 554-1U3

Fairmac^t,p³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Power⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 94WS

18/1

Fairly useful on the Flat and made a quick switch to handicaps here 38 days ago off what looked a appealing mark. Needs to bounce back from being well beaten in that contest (eighth of 14, 9/1) now back down in trip.

Form: 438

Lahire¹⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 93

40/1

Landed juvenile hurdle at Sedgefield (soft) last October but below that form since, with jumping issues at the core of his struggles. Might fair better now after a break.

Form: P1765-6

Heart Above³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 83| D

5/2

Came good over hurdles when readily scoring in 12-runner handicap hurdle at Perth (16.2f, soft) 30 days ago. Raised 6 lb for that but still plenty of scope to improve with good conditional jockey booked.

Form: 837231

Non-Runners

Chillhi¹⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 4

T: B Ellison J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

Heart Above (5/2), Foster's Fortune (9/2), Dog Fox (15/2), Theirshegoes (15/2), Chillhi (10/1), Ninetofive (11/1), Jumping Jupiter (12/1), Fairmac (18/1), Bashful (18/1), Evenwood Sonofagun (18/1), Ballyfort (18/1), Old Gregorian (20/1), Trailblazer (25/1), Jet Patrol (25/1), Moonlight Glory (33/1), Lahire (40/1)

Plenty have claims in this wide-open handicap and a chance is taken on HEART ABOVE to follow up on his recent Perth win. Opposition isn’t in short supply and if Dog Fox can eliminate the mistakes he’ll go close, with Ballyfort likely to improve for the switch to a big field handicap.