Racecards
14:00 Kelso
John & Carole Rust Ruby Wedding Champion Handicap Chase (Class 2)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Form 1-4U20P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey T J O'Brien
chased leaders, lost place when blundered 14th, soon beaten
- Form 9F1PP-0
- Age 11
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 140
chased winner until fell 14th
- Form 5119F-9
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey D O'Meara
in touch, left chasing winner 14th to before 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 3/1331-1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
made all, clear 12th, 12 lengths clear last, soon ridden, tired badly and wandered right final 50 yards, just held on
- Form 0038P-F
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
held up, fell 5th
- Form 51/3P1F-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer J R Turner
- Jockey P Aspell
held up, lost touch 14th, never dangerous
- Form 850-01P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
held up, struggling when hit 14th, soon tailed off, virutally pulled up flat
- Form 64551-4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey R McGrath
held up, headway 16th, went 2nd before 2 out, 12 lengths down last, soon ridden, stayed on and rider dropped whip final 50 yards, just held
In depth
Verdict
Ever Present can beat Rambling Minster and Ballycassidy, with Alexanderthegreat not one to give up on. Ever Present belied an absence of eight months to score over fences at Carlisle last month, giving the impression that there was a lot more to come. He steps back up in distance here and as that will not be a problem, he should prove hard to peg back. Rambling Minster is at the bottom of the handicap and will have to improve markedly after being well beaten by the selection's illustrious stablemate Monet's Garden on his Carlisle return, while Ballycassidy has yet to impress this term and is paying the penalty for his earlier successes. Alexanderthegtreat was pulled up in the Northumberland National but remains one to keep on the right side of and it would be no surprise if he were to bounce back and figure in the finish. Sue Smith and owner Keith Nicholson have enjoyed plenty of success already over the past few days, but St Matthew is another that needs to improve on what he showed first time back, and we have no hesitation in siding with Ever Present.