held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, one pace flat
tracked leader, ridden to lead after last, headed inside final furlong, kept on
held up towards rear, weakened and tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, outpaced after 3 out, kept on from last
led, headed after last, weakened flat
held up mid-division, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, headway 2 out, kept on from last
tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, led inside final furlong, kept on
Not a bad handicap hurdle with the vote going to HUMBLE ahead of Coastley and McMurrough. Timmy Murphy takes the ride on this progressive son of Karinga Bay who's from the same family as Denman. The selection has only had three starts to date and has run well in all. The three starts have been here at Kelso and he has been placed in all three winning one. He's taken a bit of a hike in the handicap as a consequence but he looks a real progressive type and is taken to score again. Coastley is another horse with plenty of course form having won here on his last start. That was a nice performance and he too has suffered with a severe 14 lbs hike in the weights. He will do very well to win with the extra burden but will be in the shake up. McMurrough has to carry top weight today after a decent effort behind a progressive type of Jim Goldie's. He is a big though and may be up to the feat but Humble gets the nod with Timmy Murphy.
McMurrough (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up, not fluent, left 4th 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, disputed 2nd from 2 out, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Tillietudlem (10-12) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Coastley (IRE) 9-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders on outer, chased leader after 4 out, led last, kept on, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr beating Pontop (10-11) by 5l, 12 ran.
Pontop (IRE) 11-8fav (11-10) Held up behind, hit 7th, driven and outpaced after 3 out, effort to chase leaders between last 2, ridden and stayed on flat, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Cash Man (10-5) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Tension Point 18-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 35l behind Coastley (10-4) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Humbie (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 7th, led after 4 out, 5 lengths clear when hit last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar beating Young Buddy (10-0) by 3l, 12 ran.
Lawgiver (IRE) 11-2 (9-13) In rear, outpaced 7th, headway 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 11l behind Al Co (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Modicum (USA) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, towards rear and reminders after 5th, struggling in rear from next, 7th of 9, 47l behind Hazeldene (10-1) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Solway Bay 12-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 12th, led last, kept on well, won at Perth 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Hurricane Jack (10-4) by 4l, 9 ran.
