Kelso Saturday 25th March

 

CORAL BLUE is in the Tracker and has won last twice in impressive style, its up another 7lbs but would be a very solid win or each way banker if you want to play that card, in the 15 runner field though with enhanced place Odds widely available I thought that 3 were of greater potential value.

 

I think conditions and the trip won't suit all of these and whilst giving the likes of Euchan Falls and Praerie Wolf solid each way chances they don;t excite me at their respective prices. I could see the likes of Idilico and Give Me A Cuddle being far more competitive on slightly better ground than we are likely to see and both are realistic dangers. 

 

The three who really appeal though in order of preference are SALVINO who despite being top weight will have been targeted at the race by local Trainer Sandy Thompson who may well have another excellent day at his local Course. It's impossible to leave this one out of calculations as it ticks every box. I do though think SOCKS OFF is a real dark horse at a nice e/w price here, the booking of a good 5lbs Claimer brings it right in to the sort of mark it can be very competitive off and I think there is something about it that sniffs at a plan and they won't be concerned too much by conditions which should suit the horse. If there is one tucked away at a very juicy e/w price with the form credentials to run strongly at the business end of the race it might be HUNGRY TIGER. It's got proven stamina that many don;t have, ground conditions would seem to suit more than most too, it runs off a very nic mark and off a feather weight and it was one of those that jumped off the page a little bit at me.

 

 

It's impossible to ignore the claims here of the Thompson pair DOYEN BREED and HILL SIXTEEN and I take them to wear down and see off the challenge of Forward Plan. The Irish raider Conguille Way has some decent recent CD form but gets clobbered with an extra 11lbs since that CD run. On a day when we've had the incredibly sad news that we've lost the retired ONE FOR ARTHUR to colic at the age of 14 and thoughts go to all connected, how appropriate would it be if MIGHTY THUNDER who ran very well for a long way in The Eider could nick a place here at decent odds for the Yard.. 

 

I can't split the Thompson pair and with a sad heart I'll have a bit of shrapnel on Mighty Thunder

 

TIPS - (1) Doyen Breed / (2) Hill Sixteen

 

-------