Racecards
16:15 Kelso
Harrow Hotel (Dalkeith) Novices' Selling Hurdle (Class G)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
Coustou (IRE)
132- Form U-54
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
held up in touch, effort approaching 2 out, kept on one pace
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Todhunter
- Jockey F King
held up towards rear, pushed along 3 out, no impression when hampered 2 out
- Form 40
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey P Robson
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, effort approaching 2 out, soon weakened
- Form FP
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer W Coltherd
- Jockey A Dempsey
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, rallied between last two, stayed on strongly run-in to go 2nd near finish
- Form 033506
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace next
- Form P0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey A Ross
behind, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Sinalco (USA)
147- Form 5/054P-0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs L Normile
- Jockey D Flavin
mid-division, headway 3 out, close 4th when fell 2 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Hetherton
- Jockey M Seston
in touch, headway 4 out, challenged 3 out, chance next, no extra approaching last
Thunderclap
29- Form 03
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Quinn
- Jockey D C Costello
led, headed 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form PP
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
always behind
Blue Morning
37- Form 0/060P-P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer Mrs J McGregor
- Jockey P Buchanan
tracked leader, led 3 out, pushed out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer Miss S Forster
- Jockey Mr C Storey
raced keen in touch, weakened 4 out
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer R Shiels
- Jockey T Davidson
held up towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Waziya
67- Form 2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out to track leaders, weakened after next
In depth
Verdict
A moderate contest in which Thunderclap is taken to open his account and is preferred to Coustou and Waziya. The last mentioned was little better than plating class on the flat but looks to be better over hurdles judged by her debut second behind Manoubi at Perth in August. That race was little more than a spring though and the form may be suspect so preference is for Thunderclap. John Quinn's gelding lost his way on the flat but has shown enough in two starts over hurdles to suggest that a race of this nature would be well within his compass. Coustou is similarly unexposed over timber and has to be respected after an encouraging run in a better race than this at Hexham last time. Hurdling debutantes Merlins Profit, Compton Princess and Preveza would not need to be out of the ordinary to take a hand but none of the trio showed much on the flat and they are difficult to recommend, even in this lowly grade. Jim Goldie's Mount Pekan is another worthy of a mention but for the vote we side with Thunderclap.