October 22 / 14.15 Kelso

14.15

Good

Clifford, Martin & Sarah Firth Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3322.06
  • 2m 7f 96y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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Clifford, Martin & Sarah Firth Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: -94212 D

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Not an instant success over fences but got his act together in the summer, most notably when winning at Perth (3m, good); ran well on soft ground over that C&D last month and ought to make his presence felt again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

6th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:45 Uttoxeter

Get With It

11st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Minor honours on all three runs for new stable this July/September, over fences at 3m2f, 2m7f and 2m4f; cheekpieces were enlisted last time; should be seriously involved again.

4/1

3rd

3

24th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:47 Warwick

Get With It

11st 11lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Two good runs for new stable this summer, the latter when keeping-on second at Worcester (2m7f, good; also has form on soft) 23 days ago; drops back in trip with cheekpieces enlisted; leading contender.

11/4

2nd

6

1st Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:10 Worcester

Get With It

11st 7lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

His two wins over fences for Rose Dobbin were in 2022; down the weights and had some respectable runs last winter, before his £6,000 sale in May and another respectable show in fourth of 12 at Uttoxeter (favourite) on stable debut in July when it looked as if 3m2f stretched him; back down in trip and on the shortlist.

4/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 841-19 D BF

Last run: 124 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner for Caroline Bailey (3m/3m1f, good) in spring; not seen since disappointing run in June and the likelihood of ground slower than good here is a serious concern but it will be interesting to see what Laura Morgan can do with him over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

22nd Nov 2022

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

13:05 Southwell

Matchmaking

11st 8lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: L J Morgan

took keen hold, prominent, pressed leader before 6th

15/8

3rd

7

10th Nov 2022

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

15:25 Newcastle

Matchmaking

10st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

midfield, good jump and went third 9th

11/4

2nd

7

22nd Oct 2022

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 5

14:15 Kelso

Matchmaking

10st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

in touch with leaders, awkward jump 4 out, going easily and disputed lead before 2 out, soon shaken up to lead, ridden and faced strong challenge before last, steadied and headed last, switched right and rallied run-in, just held

11/2

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 935F-1 C

Last run: 171 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Came good over hurdles at fourth attempt, in six-runner novice here (2m5f, good) in May; that form looks a lot better now than it did at the time, and he's open to further improvement on today's chase/handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th Oct 2024

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:10 Kelso

Domandlouis

11st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Pulled up here on latest outing in May and now 0-10 over fences but was placed in last two editions of this race (good to soft/soft) and has slipped to a dangerous mark; headgear removed.

11/2

8

8th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:40 Kelso

Domandlouis

10st 8lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Good-ground hurdle winner at this meeting two years ago and, although 0-9 over fences, it's easy to overlook last two below-par efforts on heavy; no surprise should he do much better this time.

6/1

8

8th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:40 Kelso

Domandlouis

10st 8lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Good-ground hurdle winner at this meeting two years ago and, although 0-9 over fences, it's easy to overlook last two below-par efforts on heavy; no surprise should he do much better this time.

6/1

Form: 323-86

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Close second on hurdling debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in February but soundly beaten on all three starts since (including one handicap); makes chasing debut with quite a bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

2nd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:00 Southwell

Ceolwulf

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Fionn McSharry

Landed his second win over fences when prevailing at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in March, after finishing runner-up twice; a 4lb rise is workable and he should be thereabouts.

15/8

1st

2

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Ceolwulf

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Fionn McSharry

Won a novice handicap off 4lb lower at Warwick last March (2m4f, good); two sound runs this time, notably when second to an in-form rival at Wetherby last month (2m3f, soft); contender.

100/30

2nd

8

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

15:35 Wetherby

Ceolwulf

10st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Fionn McSharry

10yo who is lightly raced for his age; progressive in these cheekpieces last season, finishing second at Leicester (2m4f, soft) then first at Warwick (2m4f, good); close second at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft) in November on sole outing this term; goes well fresh and entitled to respect.

13/2

Form: 0224-4

Last run: 164 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
0-11 under rules, including six chases; signed off in May with perfectly respectable fourth at Perth (3m, good to soft) and is 2lb lower here, but some of the others may have more potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

29th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

3m 2f 202y

Class 5

15:45 Sedgefield

Morningside

11st 5lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Sandy Forster

towards rear

10/1

2nd

3

13th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

3m 2f 202y

Class 4

14:50 Sedgefield

Morningside

10st 4lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Sandy Forster

Now 0-13 but he mostly performed with credit over fences last season, including a near miss over C&D; perhaps wind surgery can help him rediscover that form; considered.

6/1

2

2nd Dec 2022

Good To Soft

3m 2f 202y

Class 5

13:35 Sedgefield

Morningside

11st 7lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Sandy Forster

Remains winless but he largely performed with credit over fences last term and should strip fitter for his recent Kelso fifth after an absence; he's one for the shortlist off an easing mark.

9/2

16/1

Form: 7676F-

Last run: 219 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Safely held (albeit on heavy ground) on handicap hurdle debut in February and was beaten before last-fence fall on chasing debut the following month; remains unexposed but is not the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

26th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 2f 59y

Class 5

15:40 Sedgefield

Bannside

10st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Ian Duncan

in touch with leaders

50/1

7th

10

26th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 2f 59y

Class 5

15:40 Sedgefield

Bannside

10st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Ian Duncan

in touch with leaders

50/1

9

8th Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

13:02 Hexham

Bannside

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Ian Duncan

Form is largely poor; yet to finish in the first five.

50/1

Form: P1139-

Last run: 210 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Dual 2m4f hurdle winner at Hexham towards end of last year (good to soft/heavy); can easily be excused his defeat from out of the weights in quite valuable series final here in March but today's chasing debut comes after a seven-month absence and others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

9th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:55 Perth

Shoughalls Boy

10st 2lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Gary Rutherford

Comes here badly out of sorts, tried blinkered when pulled up (for the third start running) over C&D in July; it's easy to look elsewhere.

50/1

10

4th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:50 Perth

Shoughalls Boy

10st 2lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

took keen hold, raced in second

33/1

8

1st Jun 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

18:35 Hexham

Shoughalls Boy

10st 2lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

Dual C&D winner in November/December 2021 (good to soft/heavy); rather disappointing since and probably best watched despite tumbling handicap mark (4lb wrong here).

33/1

Form: 332-PU

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Won 2m2f handicap hurdle last December and probably ran just as well when second at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft) in March; unseated rider in very early stages of recent chasing debut (first-time cheekpieces) but could still have a good future over fences; tongue-tie added today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

6th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:20 Wetherby

Voyburg

11st 5lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Well handicapped on the highs of last season and he could be a player with his stable back in better form.

10/1

5th

2

10th Mar 2023

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:25 Exeter

Voyburg

11st 10lb

J: Kai Lenihan

T: Kim Bailey

prominent, lost ground before 5th, not fluent 6th

16/1

6

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 4

12:05 Huntingdon

Voyburg

11st 5lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Kim Bailey

In good form last winter, including a win in a 2m2f handicap at Exeter; three non-completions this season and, although the return to hurdling can help after chases on last two starts, others look more persuasive.

14/1

Form: P/0-P5

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Yet to show any worthwhile form and can't be recommended from 13lb out of the handicap; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

24th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Diamond Road

10st 2lb

J: Miss Ella Herbison

T: Jean McGregor

Modest hurdler/chaser who is 11lb out of the handicap and would be a surprise winner.

50/1

11

24th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Diamond Road

10st 2lb

J: Miss Ella Herbison

T: Jean McGregor

Modest hurdler/chaser who is 11lb out of the handicap and would be a surprise winner.

50/1

6

30th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 5

16:50 Carlisle

Diamond Road

10st 2lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Jean McGregor

Struggled off lowly mark in Newcastle handicap chase on latest outing in November and is now 0-17 under all codes; 5lb out of the weights here; tongue-tie refitted; can't be recommended.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.10
Straight Forecast £20.39
Tricast £41.63
Trifecta £49.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Domandlouis

POSTDATA:

Get With It

TOPSPEED:

Morningside

WEST COUNTRY:

Voyburg

The Times:

Domandlouis

D Express:

Domandlouis

Daily Mirror:

Domandlouis

The Star:

Domandlouis

Telegraph:

Get With It

Daily Mail:

Get With It

The Sun:

Get With It

Daily Record:

Get With It

The Guardian:

Morningside