29th December news

Along the road to Kelso on Friday

Kelso 29th December : 12.45 pm 2m 6½f 0-125 handicap hurdle (Class 3)

So Many Roads is our only runner on Kelso's last raceday of the year on Friday. This is quite a step up in class for the gelding and he may be up against it here as he hasn't been able to reproduce his winning form of nearly 12 months ago.

Like So Many Roads, there are a couple in this race who have a bit to prove after sub-par performances last time (Schalke & Paddy the Horse) but definitely have the ability at the weights to be involved at the finish.
Lightly raced, ex-French Imaginary Dragon ran very well last time on stable debut (market support) when finishing second (well clear of 3rd horse) in a Newcastle handicap over 2 miles. If not inconvenienced by the softening ground (and longer trip), he'd be expected to go close.

But the two who catch they eye of our form students are Ruth's Hashtag Boom and Scobie's Dunnet Head. C&D winner Hashtag Boom ran very well on seasonal reappearance a month ago at Sedgefield (heavy) when narrowly beaten by the progressive Harper Valley. She's up 3lb for that run.
Bumper winner Dunnet Head won first-time-out on handicap debut (after a wind op) at Carlisle in November over 2 miles but didn't run as well when upped in trip a couple of weeks ago. If all is well with him, he's another that can go very close to winning.

Ewan's Kingston Bridge was a distance clear of the 4th horse when 3rd to Clovis Boy last time (2m 4f, heavy) and the 2nd horse (Juge et Parti) has won since. Solid form and local man Craig Nichol's selected.......

So, Sean Quinlan comes in for the ride on So Many Roads who should have the trip and ground to suit. But.....we have been expecting a lot more from this gelding and he has yet to show any improvement on the racecourse since his heavy fall at Ayr in February.
This is a very competitive handicap hurdle.

So Many Roads

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