This week’s attempt for GG to land the Tote Placepot comes from Kelso’s feature meeting on Saturday. A mixture of Graded contests and competitive handicaps awaits Joe Napier, who looks to land a decent payout.
Leg 1: 1.42 Kelso
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Serious Operator, (8) Russian Ruler
The ground is probably set to run slower than the current official going of good to soft. We would not want too much rain for SERIOUS OPERATOR, but as long as it does not get heavy, he should stand a solid chance. He won as a novice on soft, and has put in career bests the last twice, winning at Doncaster, then finishing fifth in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton. That suggests he is progressing and this race is far less daunting than his previous.
The other one to chance is RUSSIAN RULER, whose form of PP coupled with the cloud over Nicky Henderson’s yard does not bode well. However, should the trainer’s form clear up, he is simply too well-treated on his best hurdles form, having not taken to fences. He won easily at Newbury off just 2lb lower last March on soft and is likely to step forward again over the smaller obstacles.
Leg 2: 2.17 Kelso
Leg 2 Selections: (12) Brucio
Jango Baie is the clear form pick, but while it could be worth chancing a few of Nicky Henderson’s from a Placepot perspective at bigger prices, siding with those at shorter odds feels less worthwhile. BRUCIO is the biggest improver in the field on recent form, with the Irish mare having won the last twice, including when taking a mares’ handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in clear-cut fashion. That race has tended to be a strong formline in the past, so with weight received all round here, she can at least make the frame.
Leg 3: 2.50 Kelso
Leg 3 Selections: (1) Benson, (8) Rewired, (12) Caithness
A competitive field, with Under Control an obvious candidate, but she can blow very hot and cold. Should it be an off day, she could be very vulnerable from a Placepot perspective. BENSON is the defending champion and the form of his victory last year looks very strong. He is on a career high mark, but he scooted home last year and this big-field scenario might suit really well; he also won on his penultimate start.
REWIRED is coming into this in excellent form with wins at Doncaster and Taunton. He is up another 7lb, but he is probably improving and has barely run a bad race. He also has a place on heavy on the flat to count on in case conditions get softer. CAITHNESS is the last worth including at a massive price. His early season form included two wins over course and distance, the second in ready fashion in his first handicap. He was then third at Cheltenham in a strong race, so while his form has fallen off since, a return to this venue could well spark a revival and he can go well.
Leg 4: 3.25 Kelso
Leg 4 Selections: (3) Aye Right
He may be into the veteran stage of his career now, but AYE RIGHT has maintained a solid level of form throughout this season and has previous at this track. He won here three times over hurdles and his only run seriously below his best came over 2m1f on good ground. His most recent effort at the track came in October 2022 over course and distance when running out best at the weights against Sounds Russian (beaten 4½ lengths conceding 6lb), who ran in the Gold Cup later that season. With Monbeg Genius never having run well off a break as long as this one (91 days), the admirable 11-year-old can prove he’s the safest bet.
Leg 5: 4.00 Kelso
Leg 5 Selections: (3) General Officer
Things clicked for Imperial Bede last time, but he did only beat a four-runner field in a lower class than this, while a similar accusation could be levelled at Special Rate despite seven wins from his last eight starts. GENERAL OFFICER, meanwhile, has been racing against a far higher calibre of opposition and can be forgiven a lesser effort at right-handed Musselburgh last time due to a tendency to jump to his left. Back going left-handed, his mark of 128 still looks one he can take advantage of given his good second to Tahmuras at Aintree on Boxing Day.
Leg 6: 4.35 Kelso
Leg 6 Selections: (2) Camarrate, (3) Djerbanni
This is a perilous race to finish on. The suspicion on balance is that DJERBANNI’s form on the flat was stronger than Governor Of India’s so he could well make a better hurdler. Mojo Ego sets only a modest standard, especially under a penalty, so CAMARRATE is also preferred from a place perspective given he came up against the very useful Givemefive on his hurdling debut and could easily come on significantly for his fourth-placed effort there.
Suggested Placepot Selections For Kelso On Saturday 2nd March
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Serious Operator, (8) Russian Ruler
Leg 2 Selections: (12) Brucio
Leg 3 Selections: (1) Benson, (8) Rewired, (12) Caithness
Leg 4 Selections: (3) Aye Right
Leg 5 Selections: (3) General Officer
Leg 6 Selections: (2) Camarrate, (3) Djerbanni
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