October 02 / 15.45 Kelso

15.45

Good

Scottish Racing Academy Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 4f 189y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Scottish Racing Academy Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.60
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 46-

Last run: 167 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in two Irish bumpers but he's a dual point winner who joined this yard for £37,000; shouldn't be long in winning under rules and needs respecting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Serious Operator

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

9yo who was tailed off at Kelso in February last time but that was the competitive Morebattle Hurdle over 2m; in good form over 2m4f prior to that, winning at Newcastle then second at Aintree (both good to soft); likely to be in the mix back up in trip.

7/1

13th

9

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Serious Operator

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in November and second to progressive winner at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in December; unraced over a trip this short and there's a suspicion this 9yo will be vulnerable in a race this competitive, but he's 2-3 at Kelso and is not ruled out each-way.

33/1

OUR TIP

4/5

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 11P311 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Six wins since April, four over fences and two in this discipline; it was fairly comfortable over C&D last time in a novice hurdle and 7lb claimer Jack Hogan rides again, which is welcomed given the penalties; his improvement has come on good ground, but he does have form on soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

28th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 51y

Class 3

14:15 Catterick

Mortlach

11st 10lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Strike-rate of 5-12 over fences and was highly tried before making the most of a good opportunity at Newbury (2m handicap on good to firm); this looks another good piece of placing even with his penalties.

11/10

1st

1

19th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

2m 0f 92y

Class 2

14:00 Newbury

Mortlach

11st 9lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

pressed leader, not fluent 1st, briefly led before 4th, pushed along approaching last, led narrowly after 9th, ridden run-in, went clear final 110yds, kept on well

6/4

5

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

15:00 Newbury

Mortlach

11st 2lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

Tough and consistent novice chaser; not disgraced behind a very useful rival in match race at Plumpton (2m3f) most recently, though proved no match for the winner; has bits of Grade 2 form but this is a harder task; bottom of this field on ratings.

50/1

Form: 52-

Last run: 176 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who ran a really nice race behind a talented southern raider over 2m4f at Newcastle in April; looks a strong contender in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

11

4th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

16:05 Musselburgh

Whelans Bridge

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

2021 Irish point winner but he's had just four races under rules, pulled up on handicap debut at Ayr (2m4f, soft; 33-1) in December on latest; that was after a 435-day layoff and he had wind surgery soon afterwards; also now tongue tied but he needs to build on his 2022 novice placings.

33/1

0

11

11th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 3

13:50 Ayr

Whelans Bridge

10st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Rose Dobbin

3m point winner who showed ability in his three novice hurdles last year; this is his first run since but trainer can ready one after an absence and Brian Hughes is booked on handicap debut; interesting.

9/1

Form: 70-67

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has yet to get competitive and that's unlikely to change until sent into handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

4th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:18 Perth

Mrindependant

11st 4lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Maurice Barnes

Nine-race maiden who has not finished closer than 24l to a winner and he dropped out in a low-grade handicap here (3m, good to firm) on his return last month; opposable.

50/1

7th

9

9th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:52 Perth

Mrindependant

10st 4lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

in touch with leaders

33/1

10th

8

28th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

12:54 Kelso

Mrindependant

11st 4lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

in rear

50/1

Form: 140/

Last run: 532 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Both wins have been on the AW at Newcastle, a bumper in early 2021 and a low-grade 2m handicap this July; never raced over hurdles for Brian Ellison, whom he departed for £1,800; probably best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(6)

19th Apr 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 6

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Hackberry

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Nikki Evans

in touch with leaders

16/1

12th

5

2nd Mar 2023

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

16:10 Ludlow

Hackberry

11st 0lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Nikki Evans

Fair on the Flat but was pulled up on hurdling debut for Ann Duffield in the autumn and also struggled on first hurdle start for current stable, over C&D behind Welsh Charger eight days ago.

200/1

15th

3

22nd Feb 2023

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:35 Ludlow

Hackberry

11st 7lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Nikki Evans

Fair bumper/Flat scorer for Brian Ellison but he was pulled up on his hurdling debut for Ann Duffield at Kelso in October and also came in well held back on the level in 2m Wolverhampton handicap last month for his new stable; others appeal more.

50/1

Form: 6568

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off behind Mortlach here in September and was no better for the hood at Perth.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

8th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:15 Musselburgh

Magic Mike

10st 9lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

took keen hold, led, headed 2nd, joined leader 5th, led again 4 out, rallied when headed run-in, no extra towards finish

9/2

4th

7

17th Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

17:35 Huntingdon

Magic Mike

10st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

Didn't jump great when winning at Southwell (2m, good to soft) but the hot favourite in second was even worse in that department; it could be dodgy form but they did at least pull clear; raised 5lb.

7/2

Form: 33P-

Last run: 181 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Third in an Irish point and has filled the same position in two novice hurdles at about this trip, on soft and good to soft; ran no race on his handicap debut the last time but he's better than that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

7th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 3

13:58 Newcastle

Tough Out

10st 10lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Jackie Stephen

prominent on outer, joined leader 8th

16/1

4th

6

24th Nov 2022

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

13:55 Kelso

Tough Out

11st 6lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Jackie Stephen

midfield

16/1

7th

1

28th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

13:10 Wetherby

Tough Out

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Jackie Stephen

midfield on outer, reminder after 4th, pushed along 5 out, ridden after 3 out, weakened from 2 out

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.10
Straight Forecast £5.27
Trifecta £19.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mortlach

Daily Express:

Whelans Bridge

TOPSPEED:

Tough Out

The Sun:

Whelans Bridge

RP Ratings:

Mortlach

POSTDATA:

Mortlach

The Times:

Mortlach

Telegraph:

Mortlach

Daily Mail:

Mortlach

Daily Mirror:

Mortlach

The Star:

Mortlach

Daily Record:

Mortlach