February 13 / 16.10 Kelso

16.10

Soft

Damian Toshi McDougall Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 3m 2f 39y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Damian Toshi McDougall Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Snow showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 35-442 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
He's run well in defeat on his last two starts, finishing fourth of nine at Newcastle (3m6f, good to soft) in November and second of 14 at Ayr (3m, soft) last time; he may well be in the mix in a first-time visor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Wal Bucks

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Easily made all in first-time visor (retained since) at Kelso (3m2f, heavy) last month and again ran well when fourth of five at Haydock (3m4f, good to soft) since; looked at home over 3m6f earlier in the season; chance.

4/1

4th

4

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

14:45 Haydock

Wal Bucks

10st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Course scorer who resumed winning ways (in a first-time visor) in 3m2f Kelso handicap chase 20 days ago, making all and pulling right away from last as runner-up tired badly; up just 4lb here so big shout with headgear again sported.

5/4

1st

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 2f 39y

Class 4

16:10 Kelso

Wal Bucks

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

He's run well in defeat on his last two starts, finishing fourth of nine at Newcastle (3m6f, good to soft) in November and second of 14 at Ayr (3m, soft) last time; he may well be in the mix in a first-time visor.

4/1

14/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 3-8734

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Ran well when third at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) in December but didn't convince with his stamina when fourth at Sedgefield (3m2f, good to soft) last time, and he's won just one of his 26 starts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 5

15:40 Kelso

Nights In Venice

11st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Donald Whillans

Capitalised on a career-low mark to win at Ayr (3m, soft) four weeks ago; he's also effective on good to soft ground and a 4lb rise won't necessarily beat him, but he's inconsistent and has a good record at Ayr, so it's questionable whether he'll produce another good performance today.

9/2

1st

4

6th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:53 Ayr

Nights In Venice

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Donald Whillans

Course winner who comes here in decent nick, though he finished tired when second of seven in 3m2f Kelso handicap chase three weeks ago; he can race off a 2lb lower mark here so must still enter calculations.

3/1

Form: 2P4355

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row last March but 0-8 since and wasn't at his best towards end of last year; 8lb wrong at weights today; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Halfway House Lad

10st 10lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

5lb out of the weights when romping home on recent stable debut at Hexham (3m, good); now 8lb higher and all wins have been gained at Newcastle or Hexham so still has some convincing to do around a sharp track.

15/8

1st

13

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Halfway House Lad

10st 2lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Three chase wins for Maurice Barnes including over C&D in March 2025 (good to soft); well beaten last three starts; 5lb out of the handicap for stable debut.

16/1

6th

10

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

16:35 Newcastle

Halfway House Lad

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Maurice Barnes

Won this race off a 4lb lower mark last season (Hawkseye View third); mixed form this season, but the drier ground will suit and has an each-way chance.

16/1

Form: 4P-531

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Point winner who improved upon his hurdle form to win by nearly 3l on last month's chase debut at Ayr (3m, heavy); this lightly raced 7yo could have plenty more to offer over fences and is firmly in calculations up 6lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 4

13:13 Carlisle

Big Zouk

10st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

Winning pointer on soft/heavy; off the mark on chase debut at Ayr in January (3m, heavy) but pulled up at Kelso last time; could go well but drier ground a slight concern.

11/2

2

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 2f 39y

Class 4

16:10 Kelso

Big Zouk

11st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

Point winner who improved upon his hurdle form to win by nearly 3l on last month's chase debut at Ayr (3m, heavy); this lightly raced 7yo could have plenty more to offer over fences and is firmly in calculations up 6lb.

13/8

2

21st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

13:00 Ayr

Big Zouk

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: James Ewart

Won an Irish point last February (3m, soft to heavy) and subsequently bought for £160,000; send off favourite when fourth at Wetherby on hurdles debut (2m, soft); should improve for this marked step up in trip.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: P1-381 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Former pointer who won maiden hunter chase here (2m7f, good) last April and was back on the scoresheet in a handicap at Sedgefield (3m2f, good to soft) last month on his second start for this yard; could play another leading role if coping with today's slower surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

25th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:00 Huntingdon

Slaney Opera

12st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Nick Scholfield

3-16 in points and 2-9 over fences; two respectable runs for this yard, over 3m5f and 3m on good ground; obvious claims provided switching cheekpieces for blinkers doesn't backfire.

6/5

4th

4

16th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Slaney Opera

11st 10lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Nick Scholfield

Majority of rules and point wins have been recorded around sharp left-handers, but found the fences coming too quickly even for him at Fakenham on last month's stable debut (3m5f, good; debuted cheekpieces retained here); no surprise were he to prove better than that again.

9/2

3rd

1

13th Apr 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 5

16:10 Fakenham

Slaney Opera

12st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Nick Scholfield

Former pointer/hunter chaser who won Sedgefield handicap (3m2f, good to soft) for Ruth Jefferson in January and signed off for her with clear second at Wetherby (3m, good) last month; upped in trip and fitted with cheekpieces for this stable debut; likely contender.

11/8

Form: U1U-45 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
He's unseated in three of his last four chases, the latest last February; however, in among those he won at Catterick (3m1f, good) in December 2024 and he's also effective on testing ground; he's run fairly well over hurdles on both starts this term; could be a contender if minimising the blunders.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

27th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 5

19:38 Cartmel

Poetry Man

11st 4lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

After three successive pull-ups over fences he got back on track when close up in a 2m6f handicap hurdle here on Monday when in a first-time visor; if turned out again he'd command a level of respect.

14/1

3rd

4

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:48 Cartmel

Poetry Man

11st 7lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Ran fairly well in 3m1f hurdle in January but was pulled up in all three subsequent chases; swaps usual cheekpieces for first-time visor; can't be supported with much confidence.

33/1

3

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Poetry Man

11st 10lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Won a 3m1f handicap chase at Catterick in December 2024 (good); some fair runs since, but plenty to prove having been pulled up on last two starts; tongue-tie now tried.

25/1

Form: 1P3-P8

Last run: 75 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Won at Carlisle (3m, soft) last February and he's on a competitive mark on last season's best form; however, he struggled in November on his last two starts; hopes are pinned on the subsequent wind op prompting a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:20 Hexham

Don Brocco

10st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Gary Rutherford

1-20 over fences and although he finished second here (4m) in March, he has run below that since at Carlisle and back over hurdles at Perth; requires an extreme test to be seen at his best.

33/1

8th

9

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Don Brocco

10st 5lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

Both hurdle wins came over 3m/3m1f on soft back in 2022; fair second in a 4m h'cap chase at Hexham last month (soft), but not so good last time.

16/1

5th

5

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Don Brocco

11st 0lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Gary Rutherford

Belied 40-1 odds when keeping-on second (no threat to winner) at Hexham (4m, soft) last month and is also well suited by this track but is far too inconsistent to rely upon and would appeal more on soft/heavy ground.

9/1

Non-runners

Wearelongterm

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.40
Straight Forecast £23.08
Tricast £167.80
Trifecta £104.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Big Zouk

TOPSPEED:

Slaney Opera

RP RATINGS:

Wal Buck's

The Times:

Big Zouk

Telegraph:

Big Zouk

Daily Mail:

Big Zouk

The Star:

Big Zouk

Daily Record:

Big Zouk

D Express:

Wal Buck's

The Sun:

Wal Buck's

POSTDATA:

Slaney Opera

The Guardian:

Slaney Opera

Daily Mirror:

Slaney Opera