Johnston Smillie Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race).
Kelso · Friday, 13 Feb · 17:30
· 2m 51y
· Class 4
· TURF
WEIGHEDIN
Status
13:30
Off time
11
Runners
Heavy
Going
🎯 Tipster's 1·2·3
Sporting Life pick
🏆 Top pick
KOCKTAIL BLEU (FR
🥈 Second
KAKA'S COUSIN (IRE
🥉 Third
THEY WANT ME (IRE
Betting forecast
Market prediction · 12 runners · sorted by price
01 · 🏆 FAV
2
1/1
02 · 🥈 2nd
4.20
16/5
03 · 🥉 3rd
4.33
10/3
04 · —
6
5/1
05 · —
23
22/1
06 · —
34
33/1
07 · —
67
66/1
08 · —
81
80/1
09 · —
126
125/1
10 · —
201
200/1
11 · —
251
250/1
12 · —
251
250/1
Sporting Life forecast prices — published the night before the race. Top 3 highlighted as market favourites.
Runners
| Pos | No. | Dr | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Wgt | Best decimal odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | — |
Kaka's Cousin (G)
Six-figure buy after finishing second in an Irish point and justified short odds starting out under Rules when impressively landing 6-runner maiden hurdle at Catterick (19.3f) over Christmas. Clear of remainder when runner-up in 12-runner …
|
Jonjo O'Neill Jr. | J & A O'Neill | 6 | 73 kg |
4.20
16/5
|
| 2nd | 2 | — |
Kocktail Bleu (G)
FAV
Made winning start over timber at Fontwell in November. Not in same form over longer trip at Newbury next time but back on the up when very good second of 7 in novice (9/2) at Kempton (16f, good) 34 days ago, late mistakes. Sets a good sta…
|
Freddie Gordon | C Gordon | 6 | 73 kg |
2
1/1
|
| 3rd | 3 | — |
They Want Me (G)
Successful sole start between the flags and chased home subsequent Grade 1 winner Idaho Sun on hurdles debut at Bangor in November. Went one better over C&D the following month and he remains open to more improvement.
|
Theo Gillard | D McCain Jnr | 6 | 73 kg |
4.33
10/3
|
| 9th | 4 | — |
All One Word (G)
Took a long time to make his Rules debut after being placed in an Irish point in April 2023, looking very much a stayer when a tailed-off sixth of 14 in novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (15.8f, heavy, 12/1). Much more needed.
|
William Maggs | D McCain Jnr | 7 | 69.9 kg |
81
80/1
|
| 5th | 5 | — |
Au Plaisir (G)
[T]
Some promise in bumpers but looks one for the longer term in this sphere judged on his opening effort at Newcastle last month.
|
Rian Corcoran | R Menzies | 5 | 69.9 kg |
126
125/1
|
| 10th | 6 | — |
Big Jon (G)
[H]
Little impact in a pair of bumpers and fared no better when eleventh of 12 in novice hurdle at Newcastle (16.9f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 29 days ago.
|
Ross Chapman | R Menzies | 6 | 69.9 kg |
201
200/1
|
| 7th | 7 | — |
Ellistrin Bay (G)
[BT1]
Third of 5 in a weak course bumper back in the spring but has pulled up on all of his 3 starts over hurdles so far. Tongue tie added to blinkers.
|
Jamie Hamilton | D W Whillans | 7 | 69.9 kg |
251
250/1
|
| 11th | 8 | — |
King Kodiak (G)
[P1]
Looks decidedly limited on early evidence, his jumping a particular cause for concern. Cheekpieces now go on.
|
Jonathon Bewley | G Bewley | 7 | 69.9 kg |
251
250/1
|
| — | 9 | — |
Melbourne Ghost (G)
Maiden pointer offered little when seventh of 8 in bumper at Ayr (16f, heavy) on NH debut 31 days ago. Makes hurdles debut.
|
Sean Quinlan | D W Whillans | 5 | 69.9 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 4th | 10 | — |
Mister R (H)
Masterstroke horse. Half-brother to 3 winners, including useful hurdler/smart chaser Nells Son and fair hurdler Amberose. Yard have done well with this family and he's worth a betting check on debut.
|
Danny McMenamin | N G Richards | 5 | 69.9 kg |
6
5/1
|
| 8th | 11 | — |
Nosy Neighbour (G)
Hit frame on second of 2 starts in Irish points and showed ability on hurdling debut when third of 11 in maiden at Southwell (16/1) 80 days ago, novicey jumping errors and no chance behind pair of subsequent improvers. Capable of better.
|
Nathan Moscrop | R Menzies | 5 | 69.9 kg |
23
22/1
|
| 6th | 12 | — |
Ratemenow (G)
Has showed a bit in bumpers and a pair of 19f novice hurdles at Catterick but will be of more interest once qualified for handicaps after this.
|
Conor Rabbitt | S Corbett | 5 | 69.9 kg |
67
66/1
|
Betting forecast: Kocktail Bleu (1/1), Kaka's Cousin (16/5), They Want Me (10/3), Mister R (5/1), Nosy Neighbour (22/1), Melbourne Ghost (33/1), Ratemenow (66/1), All One Word (80/1), Au Plaisir (125/1), Big Jon (200/1), Ellistrin Bay (250/1), King Kodiak (250/1)
Prize money
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| P1 | 5446.0 GBP |
| P2 | 2509.0 GBP |
| P3 | 1254.0 GBP |
| P4 | 628.0 GBP |
| P5 | 273.0 GBP |