Racecards
12:40 Kelso
Borders M.S. Racing Club Novices' Hurdle (Div 1) (Class E )
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
Diamond Mick
11- Form 0002-16
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer Mrs R L Elliot
- Jockey Miss R Davidson
made all, held on well towards finish
- Form 631404
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 85
prominent, chance 3 out, outpaced next
Big Lugs
40- Form 00/P-0
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J S Haldane
- Jockey Jim Crowley
towards rear, never dangerous
- Form 00
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer F P Murtagh
- Jockey B P Harding
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey P Buchanan
in touch, pushed along 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
- Form P0-0064
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer W Coltherd
- Jockey R McGrath
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden, staying on one pace when mistake last
- Form P0/
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss V Scott
- Jockey T Davidson
mid-division, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed and fell 2 out
Gemini Lady
40- Form F
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs J C McGregor
- Jockey F King
not fluent, always in rear
Blue Rising
27- Form 60
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey B Walsh
mid-division, pushed along when mistake 3 out, soon outpaced, stayed on flat
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey N P Mulholland
pulled hard in rear, headway 4 out, effort 2 out, not quickened
In depth
Verdict
The course experience held by Diamond Mick can do him no harm as he bids to overcome his 7lb penalty for winning over course and distance last month. He looks the obvious one in the field and is expected to hold the edge over Nerone and Political Cruise, who appeal as the biggest dangers from the rest. That said, it will be interesting to see how the market speaks about Karelian, who makes his debut over hurdles today. The Linamix gelding was rated in the low seventies on the flat and should be able to pick up a race of this nature somewhere along the line. Still, it is safe to assume that he will come on for the run and it will probably reap a better dividend to just take notes today. Nerone, who was a major disappointment on his hurdles bow, will need to learn to settle before he can start to pay his way and, despite it being early days to be writing him off, he is never going to be a star performer in David Johnson's portfolio. Political Cruise, the only other runner in the field to have actually won a race, has been finding life hard since and he looks little more than plating class. Therefore, the most solid option is Diamond Mick, who acts well on the ground and obviously has nothing to fear from the track, or indeed many of today's opponents.