13:50 Kelso

Friday 14 February 2025

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 6m 1.34s

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Selected odds by:

Young Jack²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: William Maggs| T: C Grant| OR: 119| CD

18/1

C&D winner in December but disappointing back here later that month when let down by his jumping (also found to have suffered from an irregular heartbeat). Regressed when pulled up at Haydock 27 days ago and has plenty to prove at present.

Form: 39-510P

Foster'sisland¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁸⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 119| C

11/1

Course winner can be hit and miss, not seen to best effect last time given plenty to do when seventh of 17 in a better handicap at Wetherby (19.7f, soft) at the beginning of the month. Handicapper has given him a chance though and back down in grade, he would make plenty of appeal if on a going day.

Form: 3-20457

Rocheval⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 118

5/2

Unbeaten in 3 outings last season, namely an Aintree bumper and juvenile hurdles at Ayr and at Carlisle. Connections opted to pitch him straight into graded company on his reappearance (well-beaten) and he'll need to pull out more to defy this sort of mark now handicapping.

Form: 111-4

Nordic Tiger^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Alice Stevens| T: Harry Derham| OR: 118

16/1

Successful 3 times last season and ran right up to form when fourth in 8-runner handicap at Doncaster (19.4f, good) on return, but followed up that run with two uncharacteristically below-par efforts.

Form: 121-479

Champ Royal^p,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Conor Rabbitt| T: S Corbett| OR: 113| D

22/1

Much improved since joining Susan Corbett, scoring 4 times (at up to 25.3f) over hurdles last season. Quieter start to this campaign but bounced back to his best (having had the run of the race) when third of 8 in handicap at Catterick (25.3f, good to soft) 2 weeks ago. Should be in the mix again.

Form: 22-4P53

Theme Tune^p⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Dominic Hislop⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 113

28/1

Landed a pair of 3m handicap hurdle wins for Nick Alexander in 2022/23 season but has been unable to recapture that form in three starts since. May have needed the run after 14 months off when finishing down the field at Ayr last time but others arrive here with stronger claims.

Form: 4115/6-9

Eloi Du Puy³⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 113| C

18/1

Showed improvement switched to handicaps last term, racking up 4 wins (on testing ground) before finishing the season with a below-par effort when less-suited by the emphasis of speed on better ground. Course winner returns from 10-month absence and market should offer some clues.

Form: 11B210-

Both Barrels⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Murray Dodd⁽⁵⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 112| BF| CD

4/1

Made steady improvement over hurdles last season, landing a C&D handicap on his final run of the campaign. April. Likely needed his reappearance run at Ayr last month and every chance he can resume progress back at the scene of his win.

Form: 3/4321-7

Sonification²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 112

25/1

Won a Chepstow bumper for Oliver Sherwood in spring 2022 and showed promise all 3 starts in novice company. However looks to have been given a steep-enough opening mark (well-held on handicap debut three weeks ago) and jockey booking would suggest he's the stable second-string.

Form: 15/527

Stay If U Want To^h²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁸⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 109

7/2

Bumper winner was off the mark in this sphere at Hereford in May and finished second in a couple of handicaps since, shaping as though a stamina test is what he needs. Would appreciate a good gallop to aim at over this trip and he's not one to discount if the race is run to suit.

Form: 122762

Shantou Sunset¹⁷²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Leah Noreci⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 104

40/1

Fairly consistent mare when last seen, placing in a couple of handicap hurdles around Cartmel last summer. Veteran performer might just need the outing on reappearance.

Form: 3235-32

Paddy O'Mahler²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 99

7/1

Finished fifth of 16 in a decent handicap for the grade at Wetherby in December and posted an improved effort when winning a handicap at the same venue last month. Up 7 lb and into a stronger race but he's clearly going the right way and further progress wouldn't come as a shock.

Form: P66751

Non-Runners

Lunar Chief⁴⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: Ruth Jefferson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Rocheval (5/2), Stay If U Want To (7/2), Both Barrels (4/1), Paddy O'Mahler (7/1), Foster'sisland (11/1), Lunar Chief (14/1), Nordic Tiger (16/1), Young Jack (18/1), Eloi Du Puy (18/1), Champ Royal (22/1), Sonification (25/1), Theme Tune (28/1), Shantou Sunset (40/1)

With the yard in better form than they have been for most of the winter, it could pay to side with course winner FOSTER'SISLAND, who has shown glimpses of his old ability this campaign and should benefit from this drop in grade. Both Barrels would be a big danger if in the same form as when winning over C&D last season, while Stay If U Want To would appreciate it if this becomes a test of stamina.