Racecards
14:30 Kelso
Monteith Memorial Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 119-211
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up towards rear, headway before 12th, ridden to challenge when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
- Form 3P2-614
- Age 12
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey P Buchanan
held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, weakened before last
- Form P31406
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey D F O'Regan
tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, every chance run-in, kept on and held towards finish
- Form 46-211F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey Craig Nichol
tracked leaders early, soon settle mid-division, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 121245
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Mrs A Hamilton
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up mid-division, headway before 10th, weakened last
- Form 221/7-80
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey Diarmuid O'Regan
in rear and mistakes, ridden before 3 out, headway next, in 3rd before last, kept on to lead run-in
- Form 26-3333
- Age 10
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer G Bewley
- Jockey Jonathon Bewley
led, pressed 2 out, soon ridden, headed run-in, no extra towards finish
- Form 35-5313
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer A M Thomson
- Jockey D R Fox
in touch, lost place 10th when outpaced 10th, kept on before last, no impression
In depth
Verdict
THE LAST SAMURI still looks tentative at his fences but it hasn't prevented him from winning a couple of novice events. Now handicapping for the first time, Donald McCain's charge is preferred to Ballyben, who looked beaten off today's mark when falling at Newcastle last time but had landed a double before that. Whats Up Woody continues to run well without winning and this looks easier than his latest third to Scotswell at Catterick but Blue Kascade's earlier win at Ayr came in a lower grade chase. Edmund is only 3lb higher than when scoring at Cartmel last year and could be thereabouts.
Formwatch
The Last Samuri (IRE) 6-5 (11-5) Made most, not fluent 3 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (4) sft in Jan beating Island Heights (10-9) by 2 1/4l, 3 ran.
Isla Pearl Fisher 18-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, plugged on from 3 out, never dangerous, 4th of 10, well behind Neptune Equester (10-4) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec.
Velator 12-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, ridden and struggling in rear 10th, tailed off, 6th of 9, 46l behind Rebeccas Choice (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Ballyben (IRE) 7-4fav (10-5) Tracked winner to after 9th, pushed along in 3rd before 11th, fell heavily 13th, in a race won by Straidnahanna (10-9) at Newcastle 3m nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov, 4 ran.
Edmund (IRE) 10-3fav (10-10) Held up behind in touch, chased leaders 4 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, no impression flat, 5th of 7, 5l behind Habbie Simpson (10-6) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
William Money (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Towards rear, pushed long 4 out, soon tailed off, 11th of 13, 29l behind Waltz Darling (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Whats Up Woody (IRE) 12-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, chased winner before 4 out until run-in, no extra, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Scotswell (10-9) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Blue Kascade (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Led, pushed alaong before 4 out, headed narrowly when stumbled badly 2 out, not recover, kept on, 3rd of 7, 21l behind Benefit In Kind (10-3) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.