September 14 / 17.15 Kelso

17.15

Good

John Carr Grandstand Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3430.98
  • 2m 2f 25y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
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John Carr Grandstand Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 33-623

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Has very modest 1-30 career strike-rate and was slightly disappointing when well-held third at Bangor last month, but lost out only by a short head when clear second at Perth (2m4f, good) two starts ago and is a big player if judged on that performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

3

19th Aug 2023

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

20:00 Market Rasen

Genever Dragon

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

No issues with trip or good ground judged on such as last September's Kelso win; ordinary strike-rate of 2-17 over hurdles but most consistent if last month's Worcester 55l seventh is overlooked (lost a shoe).

12/1

7th

1

20th Jul 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:25 Worcester

Genever Dragon

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Shaped as if the run was needed when third at Stratford, on return from nine months off; most consistent last year and every reason to expect him to put in a good shift again.

5/1

2

21st Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:09 Worcester

Genever Dragon

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Placed six consecutive times (twice on the Flat) last summer/autumn, most notably when winning off 3lb lower at Kelso (2m2f, good) on penultimate appearance; respectable return to action at Stratford yesterday.

13/2

10/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 6-4745 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Didn't really fire on her two chasing starts this summer and has questions to answer at present but she reverts to hurdling on a career-low mark, and it's worth remembering she has a C&D win on her CV.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

4th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

17:15 Hexham

Animore

11st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Hugh Burns

in touch with leaders

25/1

5

25th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

15:38 Perth

Animore

11st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Hugh Burns

Returned from long absence with two heavy defeats for new stable this summer but last month's fourth at Cartmel (2m5f, soft; first-time tongue-tie) was more encouraging; she needs to build on that performance here but has the services of Brian Hughes again.

12/1

4th

5

24th Aug 2024

Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:35 Cartmel

Animore

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Hugh Burns

held up in rear, headway after 2nd, went third after 6th, hit 2 out (usual 3 out), weakened gradually run-in

25/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 733354 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 11lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Four-time hurdle winner, including a division of this race in 2020; no longer the force of old but ran big race when close fourth at Cartmel (2m6f, good) recently and can make her presence felt again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

12

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

12:15 Newcastle

Calliope

11st 2lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Dianne Sayer

in touch with leaders

25/1

8th

7

20th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 8y

Class 5

16:30 Carlisle

Calliope

11st 1lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Dianne Sayer

took keen hold, prominent, ridden after 4 out, ridden and weakened from 3 out

6/1

4th

10

5th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:15 Sedgefield

Calliope

10st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Dianne Sayer

took keen hold, raced in second, ridden and lost position 2 out, beaten before last

7/2

Form: P-4547

Last run: 58 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Posted a couple of respectable efforts at Hexham (2m, good) in June but was well beaten at Cartmel the following month and is now 0-14 over hurdles; 6lb wrong today; difficult to enthuse over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

13

3rd Jan 2023

Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 5

14:15 Musselburgh

Thats Your Lottie

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Katie Scott

Outran 40-1 odds when second in this race 12 months ago (soft ground) and was pretty consistent off lowly marks towards end of last year (2m2f-3m) but is 0-18 over hurdles and others have more compelling claims.

10/1

14

8th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

12:12 Newcastle

Thats Your Lottie

10st 3lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Katie Scott

Placed just once from 18 attempts over hurdles, at Musselburgh (1m7f, soft) in January; would be an each-way player from this mark if able to run to the level of her two Kelso efforts in September and October but needs to better her last two starts.

10/1

9th

12

21st Nov 2022

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:35 Musselburgh

Thats Your Lottie

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Katie Scott

Fourth three consecutive times in September/October, the last twice in big-field handicaps over 2m5f and 2m3f; can give another good account here but is now 0-17 over hurdles and needs today's step up in trip to unlock improvement.

10/1

Form: 16P46-

Last run: 173 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Reverted back to hurdling with respectable fourth at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) in February but not seen since a tame effort the following month and is entitled to benefit from today's outing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

14:45 Carlisle

Balranald

10st 2lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Alison Hamilton

Won twice last season but has a modest overall strike-rate and has been below par of late; 3lb out of the weights.

25/1

8th

10

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

14:08 Newcastle

Balranald

10st 4lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Alison Hamilton

Two wins last October, the second off this mark in this race (good); creditable second after a break at Sedgefield last time (2m4f, good); could well win this for the second year in a row.

7/1

8th

10

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

14:08 Newcastle

Balranald

10st 4lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Alison Hamilton

Two wins last October, the second off this mark in this race (good); creditable second after a break at Sedgefield last time (2m4f, good); could well win this for the second year in a row.

7/1

Form: -F3535

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Yet to add to his two Irish wins in spring 2019 but was placed twice over hurdles at Market Rasen this summer (2m4f/2m2f, good) and his recent chase run was perfectly respectable; each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

11

7th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

16:50 Fairyhouse

Charle Brune

10st 13lb

J: Niall Prendergast

T: T Shanahan

Two wins came back-to-back in handicaps in May 2019 for this stable; modest placed form in Britain in recent seasons; made an encouraging return for his original trainer when fifth at Ballinrobe; around 14l behind good yardstick Gwan Tadgh when sixth at Downpatrick.

12/1

6th

13

28th Aug 2023

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:40 Downpatrick

Charle Brune

10st 13lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: T Shanahan

His two wins came back-to-back in handicaps in May 2019 for this stable; modest placed form in Britain in recent seasons; made an encouraging return for his original trainer when fifth at Ballinrobe a fortnight ago.

8/1

Form: P-04P5 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Won a division of this race off 9lb higher last year; yet to hit peak form this season but ran better than finishing position suggests when fifth at Sedgefield (2m1f, good to firm) three weeks ago; enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(1)

29th May 2024

Good

1m 4f 23y

Class 6

16:40 Beverley

Strong Team

9st 0lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Chris Grant

outpaced in rear, detached after 3f, tailed off

40/1

10th

12

10th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

19:30 Sedgefield

Strong Team

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Chris Grant

Four-time hurdle winner on good ground (once over C&D) but not since 2021; not seen since down-the-field finish in basement-grade AW race in January and makes very limited appeal from 4lb out of the weights here.

33/1

10th

12

10th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

19:30 Sedgefield

Strong Team

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Chris Grant

Four-time hurdle winner on good ground (once over C&D) but not since 2021; not seen since down-the-field finish in basement-grade AW race in January and makes very limited appeal from 4lb out of the weights here.

33/1

Form: 52-053

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
0-6 over hurdles but posted by far her most encouraging of three runs for Rebecca Menzies when third of seven at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to firm) last month, and she can improve again here if her jumping is more fluent.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

6th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

16:25 Kelso

Nastasiya

10st 8lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Went close at Perth (2m4f, good) in August 2023 and is now 2lb lower, but she hasn't threatened on her last three runs and is now 0-26.

7/1

4th

8

26th Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:45 Perth

Nastasiya

10st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

25-race maiden across both codes but she's often run well over hurdles (went very close over 2m4f here in August 2023) and she's shaped this season as though she'll be well suited by today's first crack at 3m.

7/1

5th

10

27th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

16:22 Stratford

Nastasiya

11st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Safely held on the Flat last month and now 0-24 under all codes but finished well for third over hurdles on stable debut at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) in May and has travelled from Scotland for this race; one to consider.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 156

Last run: 52 days

W: 12st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Rallied well for narrow win on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good; most flights omitted) in June but well beaten on both subsequent appearances; has a lot to prove on today's handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

9

28th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

21:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Haveyougotmymoney

11st 8lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Paul Robson

Last season's best hurdle form included a 3m win on good ground but below that level so far this campaign; latest run was a tad more encouraging.

10/1

5th

1

9th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:52 Perth

Haveyougotmymoney

12st 0lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Paul Robson

disputed lead, not fluent 5th

12/1

1

21st May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:28 Hexham

Haveyougotmymoney

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

Below par on last two hurdle starts but may have needed recent run; on a competitive mark on last season's best hurdle form (won over 3m on good ground) and this 6yo showed ability in a point-to-point in May 2022; interesting contender on chase debut.

8/1

Form: 63-396 C

Last run: 102 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

10

29th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

14:40 Ayr

Old Jewry

10st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Daragh Bourke

Four-time hurdle winner but 0-5 over fences; out of form at both disciplines since returning from a break in September and 9lb out of the weights.

33/1

6th

11

17th Nov 2022

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Old Jewry

10st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Daragh Bourke

took keen hold, held up in rear, pushed along after 5 out

25/1

7th

10

22nd Oct 2022

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 5

16:35 Kelso

Old Jewry

10st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Daragh Bourke

slowly into stride, in rear, outpaced when not fluent 9th, pushed along on inner after 3 out, ridden and weakened quickly after 2 out, tired jump last

25/1

Non-runners

Old Jewry

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £31.00
Straight Forecast £25.07
Tricast £77.25
Trifecta £150.60

Selections

Telegraph:

Genever Dragon

RP Ratings:

Strong Team

SPOTLIGHT:

Nastasiya

POSTDATA:

Animore

Daily Mirror:

Calliope

Daily Express:

Nastasiya

Daily Mail:

Genever Dragon

The Sun:

Genever Dragon

The Star:

Genever Dragon

Daily Record:

Genever Dragon

The Times:

Strong Team

The Guardian:

Strong Team