Racecards
16:20 Kelso
Peter K. Dale Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Winner: £3,903
- 2nd: £1,146
- 3rd: £573
- 4th: £286
- Form 91-2
- Age 4
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Jake Greenall
held up in rear, headway 6th, ridden before next, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
- Form 28849-4
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Mrs A Hamilton
- Jockey B S Hughes
tracked leaders, took keen hold early stages, lost place approaching 6th, weakened next, tailed off
- Form 4/15435-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer G A Charlton
- Jockey Mr A J Findlay
held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 1st, headway after 2nd to chase leader next, not fluent 4th or 5th, led 3 out, headed last, hung right 200 yards out, lost 2nd close home
- Form 034/324-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey Paul Gallagher
mid-division, reminder after 3rd and 5th, ridden and weakened 7th
- Form 47307-4
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer G A Charlton
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up, weakened 7th, tailed off
Nisaal (IRE)
29- Form 8045-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Miss S E Forster
- Jockey P Aspell
tracked leader until not fluent 3rd, outpaced after 7th, weakened after next
- Form U3/4436-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer A C Whillans
- Jockey E Whillans
mid-division, took close order 3rd, not fluent 3 out, challenged 2 out, led next, driven out
- Form 756P-45
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer Mrs Dianne Sayer
- Jockey Ryan Mania
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, every chance next, stayed on same pace flat, went 2nd close home
- Form 9700-63
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer B Mactaggart
- Jockey G Lee
led until not fluent 3 out, weakened before next
In depth
Verdict
CITY GROUND is only a four-year-old but looks a worthy top weight here on the evidence of his win at Sedgefield and subsequent second under a penalty to Scriptwriter at the same venue. Fast ground is no problem for Mick Easterby's lightly-raced gelding, who can return to winning ways. Freddie Brown's fifth to Remember Now at Ayr was a sound effort and he may be the pick of the remainder with Alistair Findlay claiming 7lb as General Eliott may find this trip stretching his stamina following a lay-off. Sundae Best is better than he showed at Wetherby in February but is another returning from a spell of relative inactivity.
Formwatch
City Ground (USA) 11-4 (10-8) Held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 3 out, chased winner before next, challenged last, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Scriptwriter (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, took keen hold, hit 4 out, soon outpaced, no impression 2 out, 4th of 5, 16l behind Regent's Secret (10-0) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Freddie Brown 9-1 (10-6) Held up mid-division and keen, headway on outer over 3 out, kept on, 5th of 17, 7l behind Remember Now (11-4) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Sundae Best (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up mid-division, chased leades approaching 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra before last, 4th of 14, 14l behind Lady Anne Nevill (10-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
Dizzy River (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 15, 10l behind Definite All Star (11-0) at Perth 2m NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Nisaal (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, one pace, 5th of 11, 15l behind Rolecarr (11-6) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
What A Steel (IRE) 9-4fav (10-5) Held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 13, 21l behind Last Of The Bunch (11-9) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Cool Baranca (GER) 7-2fav (10-9) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same from last, 5th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Andorn (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Red Tanber (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Led 1st until next, with leader until led again 5th, headed after 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Sean Airgead (11-5) at Perth 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
General Eliott (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Held up last, headway after 3 out, stayed on to modest 3rd before last, never any chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Shinrock Hill (11-5) at Lingfield 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.