Friday 17th February

NORTHERN - Kelso 2.05 Novice Handicap Hurdle - Class 4 - 2 miles 6 and 1/2 furlongs - 11 run - G/S

 

A competitive race where Swallows Song a National Hunt Flat race winner and Five Dollar Fine a 3 mile P2P winner who has shown promise over 2 and a 1/2 miles head the market. Both look to have decent chances but may be vulnerable to a few with more experience who look well handicapped and ready to strike.

 

At the other end of the market Goodoldbill has Irish 3 mile P2P form but has shown little so far in the UK but important to point out this is the longest trip he's tried here so far so improvement may come. Pipers Cross is in our TRACKER and it has won a National HUnt Flat race over 2 miles but with all runs at 2 miles so far and some promise, it's hard to make a case upped 6 furlongs on known form so far so we will continue to watch this one. Shantou Moon is the other one at a nice bigger price who caught the eye on one bit of Irish P2P form, beaten 12 lengths by a Pipe horse now rated 132 over Hurdles but hard to know how eased down the winner was.

 

Lock Down Luke has Course and Distance form and a Course win at 2 miles, I was just put off by a mark of 109 and he came very close to a selection as did Fortcanyon, a 3 mile P2P recruit who has had breathing issues but who suddenly popped up at Newcastle at 33/1 last time with a tongue tie added. It's up 5lbs but the rider who couldn't claim under the conditions of the race it won can here, so it's effectively unpenalised. It was literally a toss up between this one and my second selection in the final analysis.

 

The one I most like here is TIGER JET , a tendency to pull hard but the horse often gets a good second wind and stays on and clearly has an engine. If they can just run with a bit more restraint it is clearly well handicapped and has won at the trip and further off marks of 102 and 112, the Good Going will boost its chances too and off a mark of 112 I'd be very confident of a bold run. I just went with CURLEY FINGER for the increasingly impressive Redecca Menzies Team a winner over 2 and a 1/2 miles at Hexham in November, and 3rd and 4th prior to hat over 3 miles, this intermediate trip looks ideal and off a mark of 108 it would appear to have an excellent each way chance in a cracking little race.

 

TIPS (1) Tiger Jet (2) Curley Finger

 

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AW / Northern - Southwell 7.15 Handicap - Class 5 - 1 mile 3 furlongs - Standard -- 13 run

 

The most competitive race in terms of market value on the card here I felel.

 

At the top of the market we have Dubai Jeanius a Course and Distance winner off a mark of 56 and then at 12 furlongs off a mark of 60 and runs off 63 here. Clearly the one to beat but not bomb-proof. Johnny Boom has 3 wins on the surface at Wolverhampton at a mile and mile and a furlong and 12 furlongs of marks of 60 and 65 and now off a mark of 70. Roscioli is from the Balding yard and may be significant they take the hood off this one, I can't work out the best trip but it did win on AW at Newcastle off a mark of 82 in July 2021 so clearly the mark of 69 tonight looks very attractive. For those who want, have a small T/Cast Perm on those three. They are strong but I really did fancy a couple more for e/w purposes.

 

Ready To Shine is unexposed and adds to the puzzle but I was really taken by Sun Festival , SIDS ANNIE and KENTUCKY KINGDOM. Sun Festival NR just misses out although I did consider a 3rd option but decided to stake more conservatively. It runs prominently and was taken on and according to RP write up "pestered" last time, if it was left alone up front it would be very dangerous but I'm hoping it may just set up the race for my chosen pair. 

 

SIDS ANNIE has a Course win off a mark of 71, it was upped in trip last time to this sort of distance and stayed well enough and the pedigree suggests this may be it's best trip. It could be ready to win at decent Odds off a mark of 66. KENTUCKY KINGDOM is also a Course winner, this trip is ideal and it just looked to be running in to form and fitness last time and I can't find any excuses not to have an each way punt.