May 10 / 15.25 Kelso

15.25

Good

RBC Brewin Dolphin Handicap Hurdle (Div I)

  • Prize money: £3960.75
  • 2m 4f 189y
  • Class 5
  • 13 runners
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RBC Brewin Dolphin Handicap Hurdle (Div I)

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.70
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 51463- C

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Belatedly opened his account in novice hurdle here (2m, good) last October; creditable keeping-on third in Hexham handicap (2m4f, soft; back from break) last month; place possibilities off same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

22nd Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

14:05 Sedgefield

Balkalin

11st 11lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

Won off this mark over hurdles at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) in May and he seems versatile ground-wise; however, this 11yo hasn't been at his best more recently and needs to produce a bigger run on this belated chase debut.

12/1

5th

2

3rd Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

16:20 Sedgefield

Balkalin

11st 12lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

prominent

12/1

4th

2

12th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

19:05 Kelso

Balkalin

11st 11lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

Appeared to have a bit left in the tank when scoring off 3lb lower over C&D (good to soft) in May but not much has gone to plan since and pulled up after racing too freely at Hexham on Wednesday; comes with risk.

12/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 32936-

Last run: 104 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Five-race maiden who has largely encouraging form, most recently sixth at Wetherby (2m, soft) in January; gives the impression he's a likely improver now handicapping and back up in distance; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

15:57 Musselburgh

Boomslang

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

held up in last, good headway 14th, went second home turn

Evs

2nd

2

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

15:57 Musselburgh

Boomslang

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

held up in last, good headway 14th, went second home turn

Evs

1st

4

1st Jan 2025

Good

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:20 Musselburgh

Boomslang

10st 9lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

A better chaser than hurdler and defied 12st with a game performance at Carlisle (3m, good); 7lb rise might not be too damaging and he'll be fine back at 2m4f.

7/2

16/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 52246-

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Has sometimes shown signs that he's capable of winning an ordinary handicap over hurdles/fences; however, form dipped last time, taking rules record to 0-23; opposed on balance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:20 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Sandy Forster

Veteran without a win since November 2024 but showed there was still fire in the tank when third over C&D 17 days ago; younger rivals may have his measure here, however.

12/1

3rd

10

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 5lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Sandy Forster

Has won four chases, including over C&D in May 2024 (good); best recent form has been at Musselburgh and he was below par over C&D last time (good).

14/1

6th

7

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Sandy Forster

11yo whose losing run goes back 11 races to November 2024 but he ran pretty well off his lower hurdle mark at Musselburgh last month, following a break, and all four of his wins have come over fences (two of them here); not discounted back chasing.

10/1

Form: 33222- C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Veteran who has been very consistent over fences and hurdles since last spring, most recently second at Ayr (2m4f, good) returned to this sphere on Scottish National day; solid contender off unaltered mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

9th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:22 Perth

Castletown

10st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Not one to rely on and his recent form over fences is far from encouraging; handily weighted though if back on his A-game reverted to this sphere.

16/1

8th

6

20th Jul 2024

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

14:15 Cartmel

Castletown

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Veteran; strike-rate of just 2-37 over fences and hard to fancy having been soundly beaten on last three starts.

25/1

6th

5

4th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

16:18 Perth

Castletown

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Took this 12 months ago but he arrives on the back of a poor ninth in 3m Hexham handicap chase 19 days ago; blinkers replace visor now with something to prove.

20/1

Form: 8V777-

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Dual winner over hurdles and fences; generally out of sorts since last success (12 months ago) and beaten long way in both runs this spring; needs a big revival back hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

10th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Follow Your Fire

10st 8lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Dual winner over hurdles and fences; generally out of sorts since last success (12 months ago) and beaten long way in both runs this spring; needs a big revival back hurdling.

20/1

7th

6

24th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 133y

Class 5

14:15 Hexham

Follow Your Fire

11st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Won by 9l over C&D (good to soft) last May but he's been disappointing since and was tailed off at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) last time; that was after a break but he needs a major revival on this drop back in trip.

25/1

7th

7

16th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

14:40 Huntingdon

Follow Your Fire

10st 9lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Jennie Candlish

Won by 9l at Hexham (1m7f, good to soft) last May and now 6lb lower after some forgettable performances during the past year; Sam Twiston-Davies is booked but not hard to have reservations.

10/1

Form: 8/756-

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Shaped with promise on bumper debut; has not built on that effort but may well improve now handicapping; pedigree suggests he should have something to offer off this modest opening mark; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

3rd Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:40 Hexham

Shantous Temple

11st 6lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Pauline Robson

Beaten about 25l when sixth of 12 on last month's handicap debut at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) but was quite badly hampered by a mid-race faller there and remains unexposed.

20/1

6th

5

10th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Shantous Temple

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Pauline Robson

Shaped with promise on bumper debut; has not built on that effort but may well improve now handicapping; pedigree suggests he should have something to offer off this modest opening mark; shortlisted.

10/1

6th

6

24th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 4

13:20 Musselburgh

Shantous Temple

11st 6lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Pauline Robson

Regressive RPRs in four runs (two bumpers, two hurdles); best watched.

50/1

Form: 9P9P0-

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Down the field in 2m2f novice hurdle here (debut for new stable) last month, taking record to 0-6; may find things a bit easier now handicapping but has weak form claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

17th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

17:30 Hexham

Diamant Sur Canape

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Ewan Whillans

Had some excuses and was not disgraced when seventh at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) last month but struggled when dropped back to 2m1f for weak selling handicap three weeks later; 12lb wrong here; blinkers added.

33/1

11

31st May 2023

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:50 Cartmel

Diamant Sur Canape

10st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ewan Whillans

Unplaced all six hurdling starts but had some excuses and wasn't beaten that far on recent handicap debut at Kelso (2m5f); not out of this if suited by the drop back in trip; hood removed.

12/1

13

23rd May 2023

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Diamant Sur Canape

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ewan Whillans

Form: 0U57-

Last run: 222 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Handicap debutante whose poor form claims are reflected by the fact she's 6lb out of weights; had wind surgery since last run; needs a massive step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

8th Jun 2023

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:10 Uttoxeter

Rocco Molly

10st 2lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: George Bewley

Difficult to know how much the mid-race interference made on her handicap debut but she ended up tailed off at triple-digit odds; much to prove.

33/1

8th

13

10th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Rocco Molly

10st 2lb

J: Edward Austin

T: George Bewley

Handicap debutante whose poor form claims are reflected by the fact she's 6lb out of weights; had wind surgery since last run; needs a massive step forward.

25/1

5th

5

6th Sep 2022

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

16:17 Hexham

Rocco Molly

10st 11lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: George Bewley

took keen hold, prominent, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, lost touch after 2 out, tailed off

50/1

Form: 33544-

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
0-6 on Flat and 0-5 over hurdles, most recently fourth in Sedgefield handicap (2m4f, soft); has frame possibilities but needs some improvement to get off the mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

16th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

15:00 Musselburgh

Agilulf

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adam Nicol

Longstanding maiden who was soundly beaten at Newcastle last time in a first-time hood (retained); however, he's run pretty well on both previous visits to Musselburgh and the tongue-tie is back on today, which he wore when a fair fourth over C&D (good to soft) in November; interesting contender.

8/1

7th

7

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Agilulf

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Adam Nicol

in touch with leaders

20/1

7th

7

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Agilulf

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Adam Nicol

in touch with leaders, mistake 5th

20/1

Form: 4058P-

Last run: 76 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Won off a similar mark over fences last May but has doubts over his current form; modest effort in point last month; sole hurdles win came in 2020; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:48 Hexham

Loughermore

11st 12lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Simon Waugh

A fair winning 3m1f chaser in 2022; has his first run back under rules for almost two years here but he won a point last month so is no forlorn hope.

9/1

4th

4

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:48 Hexham

Loughermore

11st 12lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Simon Waugh

A fair winning 3m1f chaser in 2022; has his first run back under rules for almost two years here but he won a point last month so is no forlorn hope.

9/1

3rd

6

17th May 2023

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

21:00 Perth

Loughermore

11st 7lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Simon Waugh

prominent, led after 1st, joined 5th

16/1

Form: P5846-

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Current mark reflects recent form and he's perhaps past his best now aged ten; however, looks well treated if raising his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

11

21st Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

13:35 Market Rasen

Just Call Me Al

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Gillian Boanas

always behind

33/1

6th

12

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

21:00 Stratford

Just Call Me Al

10st 3lb

J: William Maggs

T: Gillian Boanas

An 11yo who has fallen back into modest mode since his second at Musselburgh in December.

20/1

6

21st May 2024

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:25 Hexham

Just Call Me Al

10st 8lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Gillian Boanas

Gave a good account when runner-up at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft; same mark) in December but has failed to stake any kind of claim at Sedgefield or Southwell subsequently; the percentage call is to focus on less-exposed rivals.

16/1

Form: 826P5-

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Seven-race maiden; had an excuse (found to be coughing post-race) on handicap debut and fared better here (2m2f, good; finished 3l fifth) last time; possibilities if building on latest effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

7

18th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

14:25 Musselburgh

Melchoir

10st 11lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Nine-race maiden who has not progressed and was pulled up at Kelso (2m5f, soft) last month on her first run after wind surgery; others are more convincing.

16/1

0

9

29th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

13:35 Kelso

Melchoir

10st 11lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Yet to win but not fully exposed and has shown ability; last seen when brought down in May and has since had a wind op, but she needs to improve if she's to land this.

14/1

Form: 38/03-

Last run: 45 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
0-8; encouraging third in Carlisle handicap (2m1f, heavy; second run for new yard) most recently, shaping as if this step back up in trip will suit; this is a deeper field but she may improve again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

25th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

14:48 Kelso

Brave Bairn

10st 6lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Catch Bissett

No better than third after two bumpers and eight races over hurdles; pulled up on last two starts, absent 724 days in between; sometimes hooded, now tries cheekpieces.

50/1

7th

9

25th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

14:48 Kelso

Brave Bairn

10st 6lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Catch Bissett

No better than third after two bumpers and eight races over hurdles; pulled up on last two starts, absent 724 days in between; sometimes hooded, now tries cheekpieces.

50/1

9

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:28 Hexham

Brave Bairn

10st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Catch Bissett

raced in last, detached from 3rd, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out

50/1

Non-runners

Loughermore

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £56.20
Straight Forecast £50.45
Tricast £298.65
Trifecta £356.00

Selections

POSTDATA:

Castletown

RP RATINGS:

Balkalin

SPOTLIGHT:

Boomslang

The Times:

Agilulf

TOPSPEED:

Follow Your Fire

The Sun:

Boomslang

Daily Mail:

Balkalin

D Express:

Balkalin

Telegraph:

Castletown

The Guardian:

Castletown

Daily Mirror:

Castletown

The Star:

Castletown

Daily Record:

Castletown