Racecards
15:40 Kelso
SSAFA Standard Open NH Flat Race (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 51y
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,249
- 2nd: £954
- 3rd: £477
- 4th: £238
Arnica
226- Form 543-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey Lucy Alexander
chased leader until over 3f out, soon beaten
Big Cheviot
185- Form 6-5
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs H O Graham
- Jockey Thomas Dowson
chased leaders on outside, outpaced over 3f out, soon weakened
- Form 2-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey R T Dunne
held up in rear, closed from 4f out, not clear run against stands rail 1f out, not much room entering final furlong, soon pressing winner, just held
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Lorcan Murtagh
held up in mid-division, lost place over 4f out, kept on from final 2f, no impression
- Form 1/
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer R Dobbin
- Jockey Craig Nichol
chased leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, led 2f out, edged right 1f out, pressed final furlong, held on
- Form 9-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
led, headed 2f out, not much room 1f out, soon switched right, beaten 3rd after, one pace
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer R Menzies
- Jockey Nathan Moscrop
mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, well held final 2f
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer S Corbett
- Jockey Ross Chapman
in rear, headway on inside over 4f out, weakened from 2 out
In depth
Verdict
EXELERATOR EXPRESS made a promising start in bumpers at Ffos Las back in April when second to subsequent hurdles winner Prudhomme. Neil Mulholland’s charge is taken to go one better on his return. Arnica was placed at Newcastle in March without threatening the winner while Le Cheval Noir was purchased for E110,000 last year after winning a point-to-point in Ireland and debuts under Rules. Hart Of Steel is a half-brother to bumper and hurdles winners and makes most appeal of the newcomers.
Formwatch
Arnica 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, effort well over 2f out, stayed on same pace approaching final furlong, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Lemon T (11-0) at Newcastle 2m (5) gs in Mar.
Big Cheviot 100-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden and weakened 2f out, 5th of 11, dist behind Holly James (11-2) at Kelso 2m (5) gd in May.
Exelerator Express (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden and readily outpaced by front pair inside final 2f, stayed on to snatch 2nd post, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Prudhomme (10-10) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Apr.
Hart Of Steel (IRE) Ask gelding out of Boberelle.
Le Cheval Noir (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs,chall bef 2out where landed faster, now ld, slow last, now jnd & hdd, ld again 100 yards out, ko, won at Dromahane 3m mdn sft in Apr beating Castle Trump (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Six One Nine (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Mid-division on inside, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, tailed off, 9th of 13, dist behind Shanroe (11-0) at Hexham 2m (5) gd in Apr.
Teelar Milan M out of Hervey Bay.
Tooyou Proclamation filly out of Lady Counsellor.