13:55 Kelso

Thursday 15 February 2018

All13:2513:5514:2515:0015:3516:0516:40

Paxtons Borders Depot For Genuine Kverneland Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 4m 20.29s

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Selected odds by:

McGowan's Pass²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Cook| T: A M Thomson| D

1/1

Likeable sort who goes well in testing conditions, but wasn't competitive in a very strong race at Haydock latest. Shown solid form prior to that, including when downing recent Kelso winner Cool Mix by 3½L at Ayr in December (2m maiden, heavy).

Form: 21-515

Sam's Gunner¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M & D Easterby

7/2

On a steady upward curve, and broke his duck with a fluent 1¼L success at Catterick earlier this month (2m3f+ good to soft). Drops in trip, and that's not guaranteed to suit at a sharp track, but his overall form profile is solid.

Form: 044-21

Eagle Ridge¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander

80/1

Shown some ability in Ireland for J.R.Barry; bumper and point-to-point placed. Made a low-key stable debut at Ayr last month, and being a half-brother to King Of The Wolds, will likely be seen in a better light with time and experience.

Form: 53-926

Keepinupwitdjones^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S A Watt

200/1

Formerly trained in Ireland by Arthur Moore, but has shown little promise in a couple of starts for this trainer, and was always toiling (not jump well) at Catterick latest.

Form: 55949

Leonasisland^h1⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd

100/1

Rules/stable debutante who has been pulled up in both starts in Irish point-to-points (raced far too keenly latest). A brother to 2m3f hurdle winner Crinkle Crags, so this gelding should find his level with time, but isn't one for today. Hooded.

Form: PP

Mighty Thunder^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| D

15/2

Winner on debut at Perth (bumper) in June, showing a good attitude, and far from disgraced when tried in a better race at Cheltenham in October. Upped his game on his second start over hurdles (C&D), but looks more of a future handicapper.

Form: 1693

Ofcourseiwill²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr

25/1

Changed hands for £20,000 after winning his sole point-to-point in Ireland in May, but hasn't set the world alight on these shores. Pulled up on hurdles debut at Ludlow (2m5f+), and ideally needs to settle better.

Form: 13P

That's Life²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards

100/1

Cost €45,000 as a three-year-old, and is a brother to various winners including She's Da One (2m3f-2m5f hurdle winner). Appears to be a work in progress at present, and will gather more valuable experience here.

Form: 90

Western Honour⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: James Moffatt| BF

8/1

Bought for £120,000 at Cheltenham in March 2017 after winning a 3m Farmaclaffley point by 2L (runner up a subsequent rules winner for Jamie Snowden). Posted a modest hurdles debut in early November (3/1f) and has left the care of Paul Nicholls.

Form: 1-8

Taxmeifyoucan^p¹³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| BF| D

11/2

89-rated Flat winner who should probably be 2 from 2 over hurdles, but for a rather strange unseat at Hexham in August (2m good). This rates as a much tougher contest, but he receives weight allowances (age) and handled cut well on the Flat.

Form: 1U

Forecasts

McGowan's Pass (1/1), Sam's Gunner (7/2), Taxmeifyoucan (11/2), Mighty Thunder (15/2), Western Honour (8/1), Ofcourseiwill (25/1), Eagle Ridge (80/1), That's Life (100/1), Leonasisland (100/1), Keepinupwitdjones (200/1)

A decent novices hurdle, with a number of the runners already showing an aptitude for leaping timber. Taxmeifyoucan has progressed rapidly on the Flat since his last experience of the winter game, and arrives unfortunate not to be unbeaten over hurdles. He receives a handy weight allowance from all of his rivals, and it can only be considered a plus that Brian Hughes takes the mount for the first time. However, a few of the others probably have more to offer including Western Honour who has switched to James Moffatt after making a moderate start for previous trainer Paul Nicholls, and the recent 2m3f Catterick scorer Sam's Gunner. Therefore, MCGOWAN'S PASS certainly doesn't have an easy task off top-weight, but he gets the nod. He stayed on strongly to comprehensively down subsequent Kelso winner Cool Mix in deep ground at Ayr in December, and he'll appreciate the drop in class here after tackling graded performers in the Rossington Main at Haydock latest.