13:25 Kelso
Thursday 16 February 2017
All13:2513:5514:2515:0015:3516:0516:40
Au Revoir Jim & Judy Novices' Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 51y | Heavy (Soft in places) | 7 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 4m 14.7s
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Flat winner who has made a good transition to hurdles and was a wide margin winner over C&D on his second hurdles start. Sets the standard here (has a mark of 125) as he reverts to novice company; although the ground could be a worry with a couple of poor runs coming on a soft surface.
Showed very little in two Flat maidens over a mile when trained in Ireland and looks to have a tough task making his hurdles debut.
Just the two starts over hurdles so far (pulled-up last time out) and started at triple-figure odds both times.
Showed some useful form in bumpers winning his second one at Carlisle in March on soft ground. Followed that up with a very solid run in a good bumper on Scottish Grand National Day (finished third). Looked set for hurdles after that, although he disappointed on his first start in that sphere. Probably needed the run or the experience more than connections thought on that initial start and should make a better fist of things this time around.
Off the mark with a bumper win on her third try at Ayr last February in testing conditions. Made a winning start over hurdles at Fakenham when made favourite after eight months off and looked as though there was more to come on that occasion. Regressed last time out when well beaten in a mares' novice hurdle at Warwick over 2m5f (raced too freely) and drops back in trip here.
Only modest in bumpers although was placed in all three starts and she was made favourite on her hurdles debut over C&D in December. She looked set to go close when swerving and unseating her rider at the last but she was well beaten in a stronger race last time out at Musselburgh.
Fairly useful on the Flat when with Andrew Balding (rated 76) and a winner over 1m6f on September at Carlisle. Didn't show that much on his debut over hurdles at Southwell recently when pulled-up and he would need to improve to take a hand here on his second hurdles start.
Forecasts
Reivers Lad (4/5), Lycidas (5/2), Al Reesha (9/2), Paper Roses (25/1), Wynford (50/1), Classical Sound (200/1), Balthazar (200/1)
Not an enormous amount of strength in depth in this novice hurdle and it may well be the ability to adapt to ground conditions that prove the deciding factor. Lycidas has the best form in this but his two worst runs have come on a soft surface and he could find the ground against him. That may well leave the way open for REIVERS LAD to build on his debut run over hurdles with his fitness assured this time. Al Reesha would have a chance if she settles better and Paper Roses can be given a squeak on her debut run here where inexperience got the better of her.
1. Reivers Lad
2. Al Reesha
3. Lycidas
Prize Money
1st: £3,249.002nd: £954.003rd: £477.004th: £238.00
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