Hunter Chase - 4.40 Kelso

[Darran]

Great to see a big field at Kelso for a decent pot and a good new initiative for Northern pointers/Hunter Chasers to aim for. It is going to be quite a short preview though because Mr Mercurial should be winning this. He looks different class to the rest and beat one of his main rivals here Black River by 15L at Perth earlier in the month. The only slight concern I have is the trip because he is better over shorter, but he should be capable of out classing the opposition here and thus I expect him to get away with it.

As for the rest it is hard to see how Black River can reverse form with him. Racing Pulse has won both starts for Nick Alexander although the form is nothing special and he was getting well beaten in Irish points earlier in the season. Cave Hunter has won a match since he pulled up at Hexham, but that effort was more proof that he isn't the horse he was. Shimla Dawn ran pretty well to be 3rd in this last year, but he doesn't want to stay this far and in a big field he probably won't get the easy lead he needs either. Always Tipsy ran well enough in a handicap hurdle at Perth last month, but that was off a mark of 103 and Mr Mercurial is probably around a 30lbs better horse than that. Streets Of Milan won the Heart Of All England at Hexham last year, but has only won one point this term although the 4m trip was too far for him last time. Of the rest only Wayupinthesky is worth mentioning as he has been capable enough in the past and although not as good as he was, he might well outrun his odds.

Basically though as long as he sees the trip out Mr Mercurial should outclass them here and he really ought to be an odds on shot.

Mr Mercurial 2.5pts @ 11/10 with William Hill, Paddy Power and Betfred

Sausalito Sunrise was very disappointing at Worcester on Friday. He got a bump from Silvergrove very early on and after that he just never went a yard after that. Not saying that the bump was the cause for him spitting the dummy out, but he wasn't a happy horse as he ended up finishing last. Diamond King won it very easily, but the race did fall into his lap somewhat and he didn't have to improve on his pointing runs in the end to win. Silvergrove's saddle apparently slipped although it was hard to tell when and it made no difference in my view. Kit Barry never looked like adding to his Fontwell win.