Kelso Junior 'National Hunt' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:31 | Winning time: 4m 56.44s

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Selected odds by:

Beat The Retreat^t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander

13/2

Getaway gelding. Finished last of 6 in an Ayr bumper on debut and he was ultimately a never dangerous third of 6 on hurdles debut at that venue last month. Still, he's not discounted in a tricky affair.

Form: 63

Clovis Boy^t1

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V RussellWS

11/8

Clovis Du Berlais gelding. Dam, lightly raced over hurdles in France, half-sister to hurdle winner abroad up to 2¼m Marmiton. Had wind op ahead of debut and he wouldn't need to be anything out of the ordinary to play a lead role. Tongue tied.

Form:

Halfway House Lad^t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: S Mulqueen| T: M A Barnes

28/1

£3,000 3-y-o, Recharge gelding. Dam poor maiden hurdler. 150/1, soon behind and unseated rider at the third on debut in a Newcastle novice (16.9f) 8 days ago. Easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: U

Moonlight Monarch

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M & D Easterby

5/1

Sea The Moon gelding. Half-brother to 2 winners, including 15f hurdle winner in Italy Lights of Home. Dam 9.5f/1¼m winner. Market should prove a useful guide on debut.

Form:

Point Franklin⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies

15/8

Half-brother to high-class winner up to 2½m Order of St George. Not seen to best effect when fifth on debut in an Aintree bumper in November but could only run to a similar level when filling same spot at Doncaster later that month. Still, can't be dismissed now hurdling.

Form: 55

Forecasts

Clovis Boy (11/8), Point Franklin (15/8), Moonlight Monarch (5/1), Beat The Retreat (13/2), Halfway House Lad (28/1)

Those with previous form don't set a tall standard so CLOVIS BOY, who represents a yard in good form ahead of his hurdles bow, could be the way to go without the benefit of market clues. Point Franklin may emerge as the chief threat in a tricky opener.