October 28 / 12.54 Kelso

12.54

Good To Soft

Just Add Tonic Events “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div I)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 0f 51y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
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Just Add Tonic Events “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div I)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 216- D

Last run: 217 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Close second in a Haydock bumper (1m7f, soft) on his debut last December before winning at Ayr (2m, good) in March; didn't shine in his final run last season but he's out of a sister to a smart jumper and is an interesting contender on this switch to hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

10th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Coniston George

12st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Not particularly consistent but has a chance on his best form; successful at Carlisle in March (2m3f, good to soft) when wearing a visor for the first time, but well beaten off this 7lb higher mark with same headgear when favourite at Newcastle last time (2m4f, good).

6/1

1

10th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Coniston George

12st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Not particularly consistent but has a chance on his best form; successful at Carlisle in March (2m3f, good to soft) when wearing a visor for the first time, but well beaten off this 7lb higher mark with same headgear when favourite at Newcastle last time (2m4f, good).

6/1

5th

4

31st Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Coniston George

11st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Bounced back quickly from last month's poor performance and took form to whole new level at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft; first-time visor) three weeks ago, keeping on strongly to win readily by 6l; went up 7lb for that but must be considered in current mood.

7/4

10/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
0-5 in Irish points but he was runner-up on testing ground in his final run in that sphere; now switches to rules after 279 days off but he has a good jumping pedigree and needs watching in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

6th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

16:32 Kelso

Flash Du Pistolet

11st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

Two wins over fences, one over C&D, in March 2025 (good/good to soft); ran one of his best races since when second at Hexham (1m7f, good) last time and should go well again.

9/2

2nd

6

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:30 Hexham

Flash Du Pistolet

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

Mixed form this term but when soundly beaten at Carlisle last time he was in a competitive series final; now just 2lb higher than when readily completing a double at Kelso (2m1f, good to soft) last March so can go well if back on song; tongue-tie added to cheekpieces adopted last time.

12/1

7th

7

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 2

15:17 Carlisle

Flash Du Pistolet

10st 8lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Stuart Coltherd

This month last year he won successive handicap chase at 2m4f (good) and 2m1f (good to soft); hasn't recaptured that form (beaten 12l when second two runs ago) but cheekpieces are now given a go.

20/1

14/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fell in his first Irish point but he showed promise when runner-up in the second one in May; out of a half-sister to Triumph Hurdle winner Spectroscope and he needs checking in the market on this switch to rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 5

16:00 Newcastle

Valleyview Tommy

11st 3lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Showed some promise in two Irish points in 2023; rather disappointing over hurdles and fences, including with cheekpieces and last time with a visor; cheekpieces back on; others stronger.

14/1

6th

4

1st Jan 2025

Good

2m 4f 68y

Class 5

13:10 Musselburgh

Valleyview Tommy

11st 2lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

towards rear, brief headway before 4 out, weakened before 3 out

6/1

6th

4

1st Jan 2025

Good

2m 4f 68y

Class 5

13:10 Musselburgh

Valleyview Tommy

11st 2lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

towards rear, brief headway before 4 out, weakened before 3 out

6/1

Form: 1- D

Last run: 224 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Justified strong support in a Newcastle bumper (2m1f, heavy; 9-4) on his debut in March; flashed his tail in that race but he kept battling to beat a clear second and he could have a good future at this new discipline.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

12:18 Kelso

Lunar Chief

11st 7lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ruth Jefferson

didn't jump with fluency, in touch with leaders early, in rear when not fluent 4th, reminders after 4 out, rallied and went fourth 3 out, went third after 2 out, no impression before last

6/1

3rd

2

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

12:18 Kelso

Lunar Chief

11st 7lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ruth Jefferson

didn't jump with fluency, in touch with leaders early, in rear when not fluent 4th, reminders after 4 out

6/1

33/1

Form: 6P-P8

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in his first two hurdle runs before finishing well held at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) two weeks ago; made some late gains in that race but he was only eighth of 11 and will be more interesting when handicapping over further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Blue Bear

10st 8lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Ran well for a long way and seemed to have arrested his decline when fourth at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) last month but was soundly beaten over that C&D 11 days ago and now has questions to answer again; drops back in trip with hood removed after one use.

11/1

7th

8

8th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

16:52 Market Rasen

Blue Bear

10st 6lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Chase winner in early 2024; generally disappointing since returning from long absence this year but ran well for a long way before weakening into fourth in C&D (good) contest won by De Deli Counter last month and has possibilities if first-time hood helps him to settle better in early stages today.

5/1

4th

9

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

14:48 Market Rasen

Blue Bear

10st 9lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Won over fences in 2024 (2m1f, soft) but soundly beaten in a hurdle race and two chases since returning from long absence in February; very unexposed over this sort of trip but needs to turn a corner.

10/1

Form: 9 BF

Last run: 171 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won in the mud in the last two of his four Irish points; disappointing as favourite in a bumper here in May but he's had wind surgery since and is respected with tongue-tie added on this switch to hurdling; yard won this last year and also landed a division in 2021.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

23rd Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

15:55 Carlisle

Indian Louis

10st 7lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Made all at Perth (2m4f, good) in September and runner-up over this C&D (good to soft) on two of his three starts since; this 7yo can produce another bold show.

6/1

2

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 4

16:30 Carlisle

Indian Louis

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Made all at Perth (2m4f, good) in September before close second of 15 over this C&D (good to soft) in October; well-beaten fourth at Musselburgh last time but faced tough task from out of the handicap in that Class 2; could make a bold bid now back down in grade off his proper mark.

7/1

4th

8

1st Jan 2025

Good

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:20 Musselburgh

Indian Louis

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

In-form front-runner who got mugged late on at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft); however, this is competitive and he's 8lb out of the handicap.

16/1

Form: 93-55

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed some promise in two bumpers here in the spring but he made a low-key start over hurdles when a remote fifth of six at Hexham (2m4f, soft) two weeks ago; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:00 Warwick

Edgewell

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Nick Scholfield

Landed back-to-back wins at Hereford over 3m1f on good this spring; found out in a higher grade twice since but back at his winning level and should run his race.

13/2

3rd

6

5th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

17:42 Hereford

Edgewell

10st 8lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Nick Scholfield

Record of 3-13 over fences; 2-2 over C&D, namely good-ground wins this spring; below par at Fontwell in hat-trick attempt but has possibilities back here; admittedly yet to score above Class 5.

13/2

4th

6

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:45 Fontwell

Edgewell

10st 12lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Nick Scholfield

8yo who has been resurgent with wins at Hereford (3m1f, good) in his last two starts; 3lb higher than last time but he stayed on strongly to beat a clear second and remains well handicapped on his best form; key player.

100/30

Form: 507-

Last run: 217 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed some ability in a Newcastle bumper (2m, good to soft) last December but he's been tailed off in both runs since including on his hurdling debut over C&D (soft; 40-1) in March; now returns for new yard and he has plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:35 Newcastle

Better Be Definite

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Rediscovered winning ways at Ayr (3m, soft; 5-1), that his second run back from a short break; the handicapper has responded with a 7lb rise, but this stablemate of Whiskey On Ice stays well and handles most ground conditions; likely to have a say in the finish.

11/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Record of 3-7 in Irish points and he won on slow ground in last two starts in that sphere (dead-heated last time); makes his hurdling debut after 216 days off but he needs a close look on his first run for Donald McCain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Tara Cove

11st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Three-time Irish point winner; promising fifth on his handicap debut over hurdles but then pulled up on chase debut (behind Nine Nine Nine) and again disappointed back hurdling here four weeks ago; now has a point to prove.

16/1

6th

4

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Tara Cove

11st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Three-time Irish point winner; promising fifth on his handicap debut over hurdles but then pulled up on chase debut (behind Nine Nine Nine) and again disappointed back hurdling here four weeks ago; now has a point to prove.

16/1

5th

5

23rd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

16:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Tara Cove

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Three-time Irish point winner who made quite promising handicap hurdle debut when fifth at Uttoxeter (2m6f, heavy; first-time tongue-tie) in December; that form has worked out well but his chasing debut in January was very disappointing and he quickly reverts to hurdling with a point to prove.

8/1

Form: 6745-P

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Seven-race maiden who has not finished closer than 27l to a winner and was pulled up at Hexham (2m, soft) on his recent comeback; that took his hurdles record to 0-5 and is easy to look elsewhere.
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

Non-runners

Prontoanita

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.50
Straight Forecast £7.66
Trifecta £42.50

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Coniston George

SPOTLIGHT:

Lunar Chief

The Times:

Indian Louis

D Express:

Tara Cove

Telegraph:

Lunar Chief

Daily Mail:

Lunar Chief

The Sun:

Lunar Chief

POSTDATA:

Coniston George

The Guardian:

Coniston George

Daily Mirror:

Coniston George

The Star:

Coniston George

Daily Record:

Coniston George