14:55 Kelso

Tuesday 22 January 2019

All12:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:2515:55

William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 4m 1.7s

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Selected odds by:

Northern Soul²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| D

15/8

Delivered form more akin to his winning bumper form when successful last time out on his second hurdles start (not right on his hurdling debut). Pulled clear with favourite at Wetherby to win; suggested that there was more to come possibly over 2m4f.

Form: 51-P1

Classic Seniority²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife

12/1

Currently banned from the Flat (useful sort in that sphere) having failed to enter the stalls on a trio of occasions. Looks an unlikely sort for a hurdles career though and jumped poorly on debut; better last time but still not one to rely on.

Form: 60

Erik The Red⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: K A Ryan

4/6

Useful on the Flat (has won off a mark as high as 94) and stays 1m4f; looked in good form when last seen in that sphere despite finishing well held. Now goes hurdling for a mainly Flat yard who have had success in this sphere; interesting prospect.

Form:

Fully Booked²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson

7/1

Did at least show some progress last time over hurdles upped in trip to 2m6f here; travelled better than most in that contest. Now drops back markedly in trip as he bids for his handicap mark and one to make a note of for that sphere.

Form: 694

Geordielandgangsta³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin

50/1

Looks the sort who is being brought along gradually in novice hurdles with a view to gaining a mark after this run. Outpaced over this sort of trip last time at Carlisle he will eventually be suited by further than this 2m; faces a tough ask.

Form: P267-7

Izzy's Champion²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

33/1

Hard to construct a really cogent argument to support him having shown nothing in his only bumper before finishing well held in his opening hurdles start. Did offer something to work on (not settle fully); one for the longer term.

Form: 95

Mon Ami Bob^t²⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

33/1

Improved steadily in his first three bumpers (only modest form) before disappointing in the same discipline last time on the softest ground he's tried. Back from a break now and starting out over hurdles for a new yard; best watched.

Form: 0/740-

Terminal One^h²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Reed

100/1

Hard to find any positives from her three hurdles starts so far having been beaten a fair way on all her starts (84L last time). Has raced freely the last twice; looks very limited and not one to be interested in.

Form: 3-695

Non-Runners

Elvis Mail²⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: N W Alexander J: Lucy Alexander

Forecasts

Erik The Red (4/6), Northern Soul (15/8), Elvis Mail (15/8), Fully Booked (7/1), Classic Seniority (12/1), Izzy's Champion (33/1), Mon Ami Bob (33/1), Geordielandgangsta (50/1), Terminal One (100/1)

Hardly a deep event and several of these will be hoping that they don’t affect their potential handicap marks by getting too close to the principals here. Elvis Mail and Northern Soul have both already shown that they have ability in this sphere with the former winning over C&D and already having a mark of 123. The latter battled on well to win at Wetherby showing some sound form but he looks as though he’ll be better over further with this test looking a little sharp. ERIK THE RED receives 6lb from his two main rivals and although he has yet to jump a hurdle in public his mainly Flat-based yard know what they are doing in this sphere; he’s taken to make a winning debut.