Racecards
14:55 Kelso
Clifford Firth Memorial 'national Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (Class 5)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
Art Bank
178- Form 7/7PP6P-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer Mrs S C Bradburne
- Jockey M Bradburne
held up in touch, led 4 out, headed next, soon weakened
- Form 79
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs L B Normile
- Jockey A L Voy
held up towards rear, weakened and pulled up before 3 out, dismounted
- Form 0-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey D F O'Regan
with leaders, weakened after last
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss P Robson
- Jockey R McGrath
held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, led 2 out, headed flat, not quicken
- Form 1793F0-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 105
blundered and unseated rider 1st
I Witness (IRE)
525- Form 0/5-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs J Walton
- Jockey Mr A J Findlay
held up mid-division, headway to join leaders 4 out, led 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 750-09
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs L B Normile
- Jockey D C Costello
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
Torta Nel Cielo
234- Form 808-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey J Halliday
behind, headway 3 out, kept on from last
- Form 1-270
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer J J Lambe
- Jockey E J O'connell
held up, headway 3 out, led flat, kept on well
Beau Peak
144- Form 9PP3-40
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer D W Whillans
- Jockey Callum Whillans
Nonrunner
Verdict
Howard Johnson's string are in fine form, and he can win another contest here with ECHOES OF DAWN, while there's likely to be support too for Canadian Blaze and Ifandbutwhy. The market can guide us though, given we've a couple seeing a racecourse for the first time in Humbie and The Rimorik and a number have been off the course for a long while. Echoes of Dawn falls into that latter category, and finished well down the field on debut in a Chepstow bumper. This is his first go over obstacles in public, but he'll have been well-schooled at the yard and Denis O'Regan on board is a big positive. Support in the ring would further encourage us. Canadian Blaze comes over from Ireland for her British debut. The yard is certainly respected, but she's not shown much back home in three outings since winning on debut. Ifandbutwhy is having his first outing since April, and hasn't been able to repeat early career winning form in Ireland over here. It's a race full of imponderables so do check the market, but in the absence of that we'll side with Echoes of Dawn.
Formwatch
Art Bank 300-1 (11-0) In touch, lost place 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Chicago Grey (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Boston Lad (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Always behind, 9th of 11, 44l behind Papa Caruso (11-1) at Hexham 2m NH flat (6) gd.
Echoes of Dawn (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off, 11th of 15, 35l behind Bella Haze (10-7) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) sft in Dec.
Humbie (IRE) Karinga Bay gelding out of South Queen Lady.
Ifandbutwhy (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Raced keenly, held up, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, 29l behind Dancing Mist (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
I Witness (IRE) 7-1 (12-5) (ts) prom til wknd 3 out, 5th of 9, 28l behind Reiver's Fort (12-5) at Aspatria 3m ptp in May '08.
Surely Blue (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Held up, struggling 6th, soon tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind I'll Be Frank (10-11) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd.
The Rimorik Cayman Kai gelding out of Brook House.
Torta Nel Cielo 50-1 (11-1) Held up, chased leaders halfway, led 7f out, headed 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 15, 23l behind Jubilee Queen (10-8) at Bangor 2m 1f cond & am NH flat (5) gs in Feb.
Canadian Blaze (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Soon tracked leaders, 5th after 5 out, no extra from 3 out, 11th of 26, 34l behind Ballinvassa (11-7) at Navan 2m 4f mdn hdl gf in Sep.
Molly Mischief 20-1 (11-7) Led 2 til tried to ref nxt; wl bhnd 4 out, 5th of 11, 24l behind Quoquille Des Sacart (10-0) at Hexham 2m 4f ptp in May '08.
Mr Gossip (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened over 4f out, 6th of 15, 27l behind Last Of The Bunch (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf.
Beau Peak 11-1 (10-0) Mid-division, behind from 4 out, 11th of 13, well behind Doris's Gift (11-2) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.