Racecards
16:00 Kelso
Tote Exacta Premier Kelso Hurdle (A Novices' Hurdle Race) (Class A)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Form 60-1111
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
held up in touch, headway to lead approaching 2 out, jumped left and headed last, hard ridden to lead flat, all out
- Form 1F12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer B Rothwell
- Jockey A Ross
held up, ridden after 6th, soon outpaced
- Form 10-P1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey A Dobbin
held up in touch, effort 2 out, weakened approachiong last
Ontos (GER)
21- Form 140433
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden and effort, no impression flat
- Form 320435
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey J Tizzard
tracked leader, led 6th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 211232
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
held up in touch, headway approaching 2 out, led last, headed flat, no extra towards finish
King of Arms
18- Form 00
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey C McCormack
with leader, mistake and dropped rear 4th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
- Form 02
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A Whillans
- Jockey B P Harding
held up in rear, headway 5th to chase leaders, ridden and weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before last
Maniatis
21- Form 2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer M D Hammond
- Jockey K Renwick
mistakes, led, headed 6th, soon weakened
- Form 0-51P21
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey S Durack
mistakes, held up in mid-division, headway under pressure after 6th, effort when mistake 2 out, soon outpaced
In depth
Verdict
A competitive looking field has been drawn together for this Grade 2 and the northern-based runners will not go down without a fight. Covent Garden, Kivotos and Talarive have all shown a good level of form so far and are capable of giving a good account of themselves if they negotiate a clear round. However, marginal preference is for the Noel Chance-trained No Collusion, despite the possibility of him being priced up at skinny odds. The Lambourn-based has a good strike-rate at the course and can use this a good starting block for his Cheltenham build up. No Collusion possesses a good turn of foot and the anticipated going should be much to his liking. He will be interesting if he is confirmed to run in the Coral Cup after this. Atum Re will be a live danger if he handles the step up in trip but Always Rainbows is also progressing nicely and may represent the better value for each way punters.