13:30 Kelso

Friday 13 February 2026

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:45

Johnston Smillie Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 51y | 12 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118

Six-figure buy after finishing second in an Irish point and justified short odds starting out under Rules when impressively landing 6-runner maiden hurdle at Catterick (19.3f) over Christmas. Clear of remainder when runner-up in 12-runner novice at Wetherby (16f, heavy) and can progress further.

Form: F2-12

Kocktail Bleu³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| OR: 122

Made winning start over timber at Fontwell in November. Not in same form over longer trip at Newbury next time but back on the up when very good second of 7 in novice (9/2) at Kempton (16f, good) 34 days ago, late mistakes. Sets a good standard.

Form: F23-152

They Want Me⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 114| CD

Successful sole start between the flags and chased home subsequent Grade 1 winner Idaho Sun on hurdles debut at Bangor in November. Went one better over C&D the following month and he remains open to more improvement.

Form: 1/4-21

All One Word²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

Took a long time to make his Rules debut after being placed in an Irish point in April 2023, looking very much a stayer when a tailed-off sixth of 14 in novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (15.8f, heavy, 12/1). Much more needed.

Form: 3/6

Au Plaisir^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies

Some promise in bumpers but looks one for the longer term in this sphere judged on his opening effort at Newcastle last month.

Form: 03-00

Big Jon^h²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies

Little impact in a pair of bumpers and fared no better when eleventh of 12 in novice hurdle at Newcastle (16.9f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 29 days ago.

Form: 670

Ellistrin Bay^b,t1⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: D W Whillans

Third of 5 in a weak course bumper back in the spring but has pulled up on all of his 3 starts over hurdles so far. Tongue tie added to blinkers.

Form: 3-PPP

King Kodiak^p1⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley

Looks decidedly limited on early evidence, his jumping a particular cause for concern. Cheekpieces now go on.

Form: 75U-0P

Melbourne Ghost³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: D W Whillans

Maiden pointer offered little when seventh of 8 in bumper at Ayr (16f, heavy) on NH debut 31 days ago. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 7

Mister R

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards

Masterstroke horse. Half-brother to 3 winners, including useful hurdler/smart chaser Nells Son and fair hurdler Amberose. Yard have done well with this family and he's worth a betting check on debut.

Nosy Neighbour⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies

Hit frame on second of 2 starts in Irish points and showed ability on hurdling debut when third of 11 in maiden at Southwell (16/1) 80 days ago, novicey jumping errors and no chance behind pair of subsequent improvers. Capable of better.

Form: 54-3

Ratemenow²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: S Corbett

Has showed a bit in bumpers and a pair of 19f novice hurdles at Catterick but will be of more interest once qualified for handicaps after this.

Form: 4-3545

Forecasts

Kocktail Bleu (6/5), Kaka's Cousin (3/1), They Want Me (4/1), Mister R (8/1), Nosy Neighbour (10/1), Ratemenow (25/1), Melbourne Ghost (33/1), Au Plaisir (50/1), Big Jon (66/1), All One Word (66/1), King Kodiak (100/1), Ellistrin Bay (100/1)

Three winners make this an interesting heat, with KOCKTAIL BLEU preferred on the basis of his good second behind the promising Baron Noir at Kempton last month. Kaka's Cousin stepped forward from his winning debut when runner-up at Wetherby last time and there should still be better to come from him, with similar comments applying to They Want Me, who bumped into a subsequent Grade 1 winner on debut before going one better over C&D.