November 29 / 14.45 Kelso

14.45

Good To Soft

Follow @racingtv On Instagram Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4515.25
  • 2m 6f 151y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Follow @racingtv On Instagram Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 66643-

Last run: 229 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Ran respectably on handicap debut over 3m3f at Sedgefield when last seen in April, without necessarily suggesting the drop back to this trip would suit; however, he's unexposed and no surprise should he raise game this time round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

13:48 Carlisle

Ballin Bay

11st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Has won his last three races, all at Sedgefield, two 3m3f handicap hurdles and last time (second run with cheekpieces) a 3m2f handicap chase; these conditions fine and should go well again despite career-high mark (5lb higher than last win).

5/1

1st

2

19th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 59y

Class 4

14:40 Sedgefield

Ballin Bay

11st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Failed to threaten in 2024 on his two previous chase starts but he's in much better form now having won over hurdles here on his last two starts (3m3f, good to soft/soft); has shown promise on good ground; he's just 5lb higher than when easily making all four weeks ago in first-time cheekpieces (retained) and can have a big say if transferring that form back to fences.

5/4

1st

7

19th Feb 2026

3m 3f 9y

Class 4

14:33 Sedgefield

Ballin Bay

10st 11lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Got off the mark for the season when winning over C&D earlier this month (good to soft); only 3lb higher, but this a stronger race; cheekpieces now tried; contender.

5/2

5/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 7823-4

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Best handicap run came at Newcastle over 2m4f in March but failed to match that on either of subsequent outings; however, should be better for reappearance run and return to this trip could help so has each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

24th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 218y

Class 4

16:05 Carlisle

Enemy At The Gate

11st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Donald Whillans

Remains a maiden after 14 starts but he's consistent and was a good third over C&D (soft) in March; didn't quite see out 3m1f here later that month; has had wind op since and holds each-way claims on his return.

11/1

3rd

5

30th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Carlisle

Enemy At The Gate

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald Whillans

Consistent maiden who was close up over 3m at Ayr (just behind Artic Mann) before finishing third here where dropping back to 2m3f found him out (was staying on); unlikely to be far away.

4/1

3rd

5

7th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:05 Carlisle

Enemy At The Gate

11st 5lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Donald Whillans

in rear early, midfield 4 out

9/2

Form: /P6-20

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Regressive maiden hurdler who failed to match the form of previous run (over this C&D) when fair way behind Call Me Harry after six-month break last time; gets cheekpieces now but might be one to watch.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

14th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

13:50 Kelso

Firth Of Forth

10st 9lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

He's well handicapped on hurdle form as recent as last May. when second over 2m6f here, but he failed to shine on his last two runs in that sphere and was down the field on his chase debut at Newcastle three weeks ago.

20/1

6th

6

23rd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

13:05 Newcastle

Firth Of Forth

10st 8lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

held up in rear

12/1

3rd

4

29th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:45 Kelso

Firth Of Forth

11st 8lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

in touch with leaders, hung right and went third before 2 out, weakened before last

8/1

Form: 6342-

Last run: 264 days

W: 10st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Ability at an ordinary level last season and has had a wind op since last run in March; up a fair way in trip but interesting to see if there's any money about for this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

13th May 2026

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

17:25 Perth

Beat The Retreat

11st 8lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Won two of his last four, accounting for Snow Dragon at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft; from 4lb lower) in February; the snag is that the other two efforts were laboured ones, beaten 28l into fourth over 2m here (good) three weeks ago; this longer trip can assist.

8/1

4th

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Beat The Retreat

11st 6lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Inconsistent but won at Ayr (2m3f, heavy) in December and returned to form to win at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) in February on his latest start; ran well on good ground here last May and it's possible he'll cope with the drop back in trip; he can be in the shake-up if on another going day.

7/1

1st

5

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

16:50 Musselburgh

Beat The Retreat

11st 2lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Three-time winner, most recently at Ayr (2m3f) on penultimate start; however, by no means certain to repeat that form, being far from consistent otherwise.

12/1

Form: 446110 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
0-10 over hurdles but has a good strike-rate over fences; has a 9lb lower hurdle mark but he's still 13lb higher than his last run in this sphere (March 2022) so will need to translate some of his chase improvement to this discipline.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

23rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

17:18 Hexham

Hidden Commander

12st 0lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

Won at Kelso (2m5f, good) last September and followed up over this C&D (soft); hint of spark at Kelso last time and he's back down to his last winning mark, but has to take another step back in the right direction.

8/1

4th

4

26th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

14:50 Kelso

Hidden Commander

11st 5lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

disputed lead, raced in second from 3rd, outpaced after 2 out, weakened approaching last

10/1

4th

4

26th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

14:50 Kelso

Hidden Commander

11st 5lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

Second in this race last year and three of his seven chase wins have been at this venue; did little on last three starts, the latest back over fences here when 33-1 after 161-day break, so there are mixed messages.

10/1

Non-runners

Boomslang, Call Me Harry, High On The Hill

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.40
Straight Forecast £9.26
Trifecta £32.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Call Me Harry

POSTDATA:

Boomslang

Daily Mail:

Firth Of Forth

D Express:

Enemy At The Gate

Daily Record:

Hidden Commander

RP RATINGS:

Call Me Harry

The Times:

Call Me Harry

Telegraph:

Call Me Harry

The Guardian:

Call Me Harry

Daily Mirror:

Call Me Harry

The Sun:

Call Me Harry

The Star:

Call Me Harry