12:54 Kelso

Monday 29 December 2025

All11:4512:1912:5413:2914:0414:3915:15

Slainte Mhath Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:54 | Winning time: 5m 47.83s

Country Code⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Ruth Jefferson

5/4

Placed both starts in Irish points prior to making a successful hurdle debut for new connections at Newcastle (2½m, good to soft) 45 days ago. Did that readily and a penalty shouldn't prevent another bold bid over this longer trip.

Form: 23-1

Imperfectlyperfect⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore

4/1

£70,000 Irish point recruit won a bumper and followed up when landing the odds on return/hurdles debut there (16.2f, good) in October (carries penalty here). Flying too high in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (21f) last time but better expected over this longer trip with sights lowered.

Form: 7231-17

Tashkhan¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Ellison

7/2

Useful stayer on Flat at best (didn't look force of old last season) but made a successful hurdles debut in an 8-runner novice at Hexham (20.1f, heavy) earlier this month, showing a good attitude after bungling the last. Carries penalty but should progress, especially now upped in distance.

Form: 1

Burncourt Boy³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy

9/2

£48,000 purchase from the Irish pointing field after getting off the mark at the third attempt in April. Showed plenty to work on when fifth on hurdle debut but unable to back that up when well held in a 2½m novice at Newbury (16/1) latest. Sure to progress at some stage and worth a market check.

Form: F/P1-56

Old Comrades²³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander

11/1

Shantou gelding. Brother to useful dual bumper winner Brechin Castle and useful hurdler Minella Sixo (2m/23f winner). £58,000 purchase after getting off the mark in Irish points at the fourth attempt in May. One to note for support on hurdle/stable debut.

Form: 3PP-1

Yorkshire Man Sam¹¹³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford

33/1

Related to above-average jumpers and shaped well when third in a pair of points back in 2022. Upped markedly in trip for hurdle debut (bred to suit) and betting should guide returning from over 3 years off.

Form: 33/

Ivan's Legacy^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: S Corbett

150/1

Yard had success with this family but showed modest form at best when fourth on all 3 bumper starts and well held on hurdle debut over 2m here last time. Needs to improve for the markedly longer trip.

Form: 4-447

Non-Runners

Am I Bovvered²⁸

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: Miss S E Forster J: P W Wadge

Forecasts

Country Code (5/4), Tashkhan (7/2), Imperfectlyperfect (4/1), Burncourt Boy (9/2), Old Comrades (11/1), Yorkshire Man Sam (33/1), Ivan's Legacy (150/1), Am I Bovvered (200/1)

A useful stayer on the Flat, TASHKHAN will appreciate this longer trip and may be able to defy a penalty to follow up his hurdle debut success. Imperfectlyperfect is feared back down in class, while there should be more to come from Country Code following his win on hurdles bow. Olly Murphy's Burncourt Boy looks the type to win races at some stage and is worth noting for support.