Racecards
16:50 Kelso
J. Rutherford (Earlston) Hunters' Chase
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 2-11P53
- Age 11
- Weight 12-5
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer Miss M Bremner
- Jockey Miss J Hollands
mid-division, pushed along when mistake 11th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before next
- Form 7-11U14
- Age 13
- Weight 12-2
- Trainer G Bewley
- Jockey Mrs V Jackson
always behind, never dangerous
- Form 132512
- Age 9
- Weight 12-2
- Trainer Miss J E Foster
- Jockey Miss J Foster
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 2 out, kept on one pace flat, no impression
- Form P24175
- Age 10
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Michael Smith
- Jockey Mr M J McAlister
mistake 1st, tracked leaders, challenged 10th, led 13th, drew clear approaching last, ridden and stayed on strongly
- Form 3P-1211
- Age 11
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer R D E Woodhouse
- Jockey Mr B Woodhouse
led to 2nd, tracked leader, mistake 10th, challenged 3 out, ridden and outpaced apporoaching last, no chance with winner
Swiftway
23- Form PP-11U1
- Age 11
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Miss J Fisher
- Jockey Mr W L Morgan
in touch, led and hit 2nd, headed 13th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
Chaos Theory
14- Form U32611
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey Mr D Thomas
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
- Form 94-U627
- Age 13
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer Ian Stark
- Jockey Mr R S Brown
mid-division when fell 7th,
French Cedar
31- Form F2R-P04
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
behind, mistake 4th, headway and in touch halfway, hit 3 out, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 4BU-243
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Mrs H D Marks
- Jockey Mr C Dawson
chased leaders to halfway, behind from 3 out
- Form P-2641U
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer R A Ross
- Jockey Mr A J Findlay
behind, blundered 4th, lost touch 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Ikdam Melody, an easy winner of a beginners' chase at Wexford last May, has the class to prevail and is the pick over Mr Mahdlo, Swiftway and Geordies Express to name but three. Most of these have been kept fit between the flags, so that will not be an issue, but the ability to handle the bigger obstacles is paramount, and Ikdam Melody's success last year puts him firmly in with a chance today. Mr Mahdlo was always up with the pace when scoring at Sedgefield recently and can prove to be the main danger, while Swiftway, an easy winner at Musselburgh in February, was an early faller at Ayr last time out and is another that may be in the shake-up. Geordies Express was seventh in this race 12 months ago, and looks held on recent running by Mr Mahdlo. Of the rest, Nisbet is of interest as the race is sponsored by his owner's family, but he will need the ground to dry up to have a chance. For the winner we return to Ikdam Melody.
Formwatch
Nisbet 7-2 Soon chasing winner, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 6, well behind Running Moss at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (H) sft.
Geordies Express 7-2fav Led to 14th, chased leaders until weakened 4 out, beaten when hit 2 out, 4th of 12, 28l behind Mr Mahdlo at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (H) sft in Mar.
Ikdam Melody (IRE) 5-4 2nd of 5, 6l behind Ledgendry Line at Mordon 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Monty's Quest (IRE) 5-1 Towards rear, headway 11th, hit 13th, chased leaders 5 out, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 12, well behind Mr Mahdlo at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (H) sft in Mar.
Mr Mahdlo 9-2 Always prominent, led 14th to 4 out, led again approaching 2 out, ridden clear between last 2, easily, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hts chs (H) sft in Mar beating Involved by 16l, 12 ran.
Swiftway 4-5fav won at Point To Point 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Lord O'All Seasons by 3l, 6 ran.
Chaos Theory 9-4 won at Charm Park 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Marrasit by 6l, 4 ran.
Dr Deductible 20-1 7th of 14, well behind Johnnys Gone at Dalston 3m ptp gd.
French Cedar 33-1 Held up and behind, driven 16th, chased leading pair under pressure briefly 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 40l behind Whitenzo at Sandown 3m amt chs (E) gs in Mar.
Grangewick Flight 6-1 Held up in touch, headway 4 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, headed last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Catch The Perk at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Jun.
Kilcaskin Gold (IRE) 7-2 Chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Running Moss at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (H) sft, 6 ran.