15:20 Kelso

Sunday 10 March 2024

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Bruce Farms Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 6m 35.5s

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Selected odds by:

Barbados Buck's^p³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Ryan Mania| T: D Bourke| OR: 129

25/1

Quite a useful hurdler for Paul Nicholls and struck at the second time of asking for his new stable in small-field handicap at Carlisle (25f, heavy) in December. Only ninth at Sandown last time but sort to bounce back.

Form: 32-4139

Dare To Shout^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 125| C

10/1

Course winner. Tongue strap on for 1st time when creditable sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (23.8f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 17-1856

Imperial Merlin²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 125

8/1

Took well to hurdling last season, winning 3 times. Only second run over fences when fell second last (yet to be asked for effort) in 23f handicap here 23 days ago. Player reverted to hurdles off a 2 lb lower mark with Brian Hughes also back up.

Form: 2F1-53F

Scipion^p,t1⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 123

80/1

Won at Lingfield (23.5f) last February for Tom Clover but hasn't been in the same form since for his current yard, pulled up at Carlisle in December. Tongue tied and back hurdling with something to prove.

Form: P2-545P

Cadell³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 123| C

5/2

Mahler gelding who went unbeaten in points and made a winning hurdling bow at Kelso in October. Good second in 3m Musselburgh novice 36 days ago so he's one to consider now going into handicaps.

Form: 1-21272

Ned Tanner²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N W Alexander| OR: 119| C

6/1

Scored twice over fences here last season and arrives in decent nick, still close up when fell 2 out in 2m5f chase here 23 days ago. Possibilities returned to this sphere.

Form: 2-52U3F

Tiger Jet⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: S Mulqueen| T: B Ellison| OR: 116

22/1

Won 3m Haydock handicap last April and back to that sort of form in recent starts, latest when fifth at Cheltenham (24f) in December. One to consider.

Form: 1-68P35

Guernesey³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 109

16/1

Good first outing for this yard when a C&D second in November but he came in a below-par fourth of seven at Catterick last time. Sort to bounce back.

Form: 27-2544

Velasco^p,t⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR: 101

10/3

Arrives in great nick and on a hat-trick after landing handicaps at Sedgefield and Doncaster (3m) recently. Saddles a 7 lb penalty now but he's still not taken lightly in his current mood.

Form: 134711

Shoeshine Boy^t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR: 104

11/2

Tongue tied and got off the mark for the season in 13-runner handicap hurdle at Ayr (24.3f, heavy) 26 days ago. Firmly in the picture despite a 3 lb rise.

Form: 12-2241

Forecasts

Cadell (5/2), Velasco (10/3), Shoeshine Boy (11/2), Ned Tanner (6/1), Imperial Merlin (8/1), Dare To Shout (10/1), Guernesey (16/1), Tiger Jet (22/1), Barbados Buck's (25/1), Scipion (80/1)

A case can be made for lots of these but IMPERIAL MERLIN gets the vote given he had every chance when a late faller over fences here last time out and returns to this sphere on a handy-looking mark. Brian Hughes is also back in the saddle too. Cadell is feared most with the promise of better to come on his handicap debut, although in-form trio Velasco, Ned Tanner and Dare To Shout all command plenty of respect too.