September 18 / 16.30 Kelso

16.30

Good

Borders Carers Centre Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 4f 189y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Borders Carers Centre Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.34
  • Place: £1.10

Form: FP-F21 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Dual bumper winner; improved since being stepped up in trip, last time winning Downpatrick maiden hurdle by 15l (2m6f, good); chance although two runs back finished second to Step Out who had been second to Kandor at Perth on his previous start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

12

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Intense Approach

10st 11lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Prevailed in a big field at Galway (2m6f, good) on chase debut but has failed to back up that form since and was particularly disappointing in October when bidding for a second win at the Cheltenham Showcase meeting; wears first-time headgear; less solid than others.

50/1

26

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Intense Approach

10st 10lb

T: John C McConnell

Reserve; won four times (once on good here) as a novice hurdler last season before pulling up at 14-1 in the 3m Grade 1 novice event here; won chase debut at the Galway festival (2m6f) last August but chase career has gone badly the wrong way since, latest start 11 days ago; returns to hurdling in first-time cheekpieces; next to no exposure in handicaps but low on the list.

50/1

5th

2

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:35 Navan

Intense Approach

11st 1lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: John C McConnell

Four-time hurdles winner with a liking for a sound surface and staying trips; had the going in his favour when making a winning chase debut over 2m6f at the Galway festival last August; disappointing when well fancied for a 3m1f contest at Cheltenham in October; unseated at the first at Musselburgh early this month.

33/1

OUR TIP

13/8

  • Place: £2.00

Form: /273-1 D

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Off the mark on second hurdles run when winning 2m4f novice at Perth in July (good); chance on that form as runner-up went on to beat Intense Approach at Downpatrick next time (2m6f).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

20:30 Huntingdon

Kandor

11st 12lb

J: Mr Daniel Williams

T: M Gill

Fair handicapper when trained by Lucinda Russell and 2-6 in points for current stable, the latter win gained in three-runner mixed open at Edgcote (3m, good) last month; probably has a big role to play in this.

5/2

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Kandor

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Won a novice hurdle here last July (2m4f, good); four runs over fences, best effort when 1.75l fourth of eight over C&D last time (good to soft); contender.

4/1

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Kandor

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Won a novice hurdle here last July (2m4f, good); four runs over fences, best effort when 1.75l fourth of eight over C&D last time (good to soft); contender.

4/1

Form: 1

Last run: 92 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Joined present yard after winning a Stratford novice hurdle on debut in June (2m2f, good; 10-11 favourite, had already been given a wind op); that form has not worked out; no easy task with a penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

19th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 3

15:22 Cartmel

Go Go Chicago

11st 5lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

Low-mileage 8yo who battled gamely to make winning handicap debut a Perth (2m4f, good) in May and lost out only narrowly when clear second over C&D (good to soft) in June; untested on soft ground but still shortlisted.

5/1

2nd

4

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:40 Cartmel

Go Go Chicago

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ruth Jefferson

Very lightly raced 8yo who battled on gamely to make winning handicap debut a Perth (2m4f, good) last month; could easily have more to offer if suited by the forecast slower ground; respected.

100/30

Form: 515-7 BF

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair form in bumpers (won at Doncaster last December); didn't jump well when well beaten on hurdles debut last month; should improve on that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 52

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won an Irish point at tenth attempt; runner-up in a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle (2m4f, good) on final start for Ben Pauling; sold £13,500 last month; quite interesting on debut for new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:25 Musselburgh

Top Man Tom

12st 0lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Quickly made his mark in handicaps for this yard with two front-running wins over C&D (good to soft/soft) this winter, latterly ending 12l to the good; up to this 11lb higher mark in a much better race when only fifth of 11 back over C&D on latest outing but he is back down in class today.

10/1

5th

12

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:00 Musselburgh

Top Man Tom

10st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

disputed lead, prominent after 5th, weakened after 2 out

9/1

5th

12

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:00 Musselburgh

Top Man Tom

10st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

1-10 in points; however, he's now 2-6 over hurdles after front-running wins over C&D (good to soft/soft) on last two starts, last time easily stretching clear from approaching three out and ending 12l to the good; up another 11lb in a much better race, but it's hard to pin down just how good he is.

9/1

Form: 7330

Last run: 76 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Third in two races at Hexham in May/June (both over 2m4f on good); had a wind operation in between; below par latest (11 days after second Hexham run); cheekpieces now tried; would be better off in a handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

18th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:30 Kelso

Major Champion

11st 0lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

Third in two races at Hexham in May/June (both over 2m4f on good); had a wind operation in between; below par latest (11 days after second Hexham run); cheekpieces now tried; would be better off in a handicap.

20/1

12th

3

4th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:18 Perth

Major Champion

11st 4lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

Completed only one of his four Irish points; made low-key start over hurdles in May but he's shown promise at Hexham (2m4f, good) since including a close third last time, on his first run after wind surgery; should have more to offer in this sphere and he's in the mix.

4/1

3rd

3

23rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

15:18 Hexham

Major Champion

11st 4lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

Completed only one of his four Irish points and was soundly beaten on last month's rules debut but outran 66-1 odds when placed over C&D (good) a few days later, and that piece of form brings him into the equation.

5/1

Form: 508/

Last run: 612 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest form in a bumper and in two races over hurdles two seasons ago (all at around 2m with give in the ground); today's conditions may suit better; stiff task on return from 612-day break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

18th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:30 Kelso

Highlander Hill

11st 0lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Paul Robson

sweating, in rear, jumped slightly right and bumped rival 1st

25/1

8th

9

15th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:00 Kelso

Highlander Hill

11st 0lb

J: Tom Scudamore

T: Paul Robson

prominent on outer

100/1

11th

5

22nd Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:30 Ayr

Highlander Hill

11st 4lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Paul Robson

midfield

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.10
Straight Forecast £2.72
Trifecta £13.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Intense Approach

Telegraph:

Kandor

TOPSPEED:

Top Man Tom

RP RATINGS:

Intense Approach

POSTDATA:

Intense Approach

The Times:

Intense Approach

The Guardian:

Intense Approach

Daily Mail:

Intense Approach

Daily Mirror:

Intense Approach

The Sun:

Intense Approach

Daily Record:

Intense Approach

D Express:

Kandor

The Star:

Kandor