Sam King continued his good run of form yesterday when both of his selections found the winners’ enclosure and he’s back with a trio of horses for Saturday…
This weekend's Go North finals series heads to Kelso for the middle leg of his journey and there's plenty of competitive action on the seven-race card, including two £100,000 handicaps on offer.
The Adrian Keatley-trained Golden Horn mare Surrey Belle is of obvious interest on her handicap debut in the Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares' Novices' Hurdle (3.00), but she has to carry 12stone and might struggle to give 11lb away to the progressive Northern Air.
With Fergal O'Brien 13-35 (37%) with horses he's sent to Kelso over the last five years, Northern Air has to be taken seriously following her comprehensive maiden success over hurdles at Taunton in January.
That victory came after a wind operation and it's likely there's going to be more to come from this unexposed six-year-old, who really caught the eye when runner-up to the now 129-rated Gerry Feilden (Grade 3 Handicap) winner Navajo Indy at Wincanton last April.
An opening mark of 110 looks more than workable and although she still looks like a work in progress, it would be disappointing if she couldn't capitalise on her handicap debut.
1pt win – Northern Air
Odds – 10/3
It could be a profitable day for the Fergal O'Brien team, and I also fancy Serious Challenge in the opening Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices' Handicap Hurdle (2.05).
A gelded son of Fracas, Serious Challenge developed into a classy middle-distance horse on the flat for trainer Jim Bolger, finishing placed at Listed level in Ireland before switching to Fergal O'Brien's with an official rating of 102.
It, therefore, looked a somewhat underwhelming performance when he was beaten over 20 lengths into fifth on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon in January, but the form of that event has worked out particularly well, with the front three home all now rated 128 over hurdles following some notable success.
A snug triumph at Plumpton second time out over hurdles proved he stayed the two and a half miles trip, while it was tough not to be impressed with the performance he put up to readily brush aside the 125-rated Gordon Elliott-trained Bowensonfire back over two miles at Ayr last month.
The return to quicker ground shouldn't pose any issues given his profile on the flat and with an opening mark of 128, he could prove well-treated.
1pt win – Serious Challenge
Odds – 9/2
Later on the card at Newbury, Saint Segal looks to hold strong claims of getting back to winning ways in the BetVictor Home Of The Saturday Superboost Handicap Chase (2.40).
Jane Williams' seven-year-old arrives right at the top of his game having run away with a course and distance handicap chase in December before posting two solid placed efforts in valuable races over fences.
He looked to hold every chance on the approach to the final fence in the Greatwood Gold Cup here when last seen, only to be swamped by the remarkable late burst of Booster Bob, and a replication of that effort could suffice off an unchanged rating of 139.
You have to go back to 2023 to find some decent form on good ground, but I'd be fairly confident he can handle the quicker conditions this afternoon and if doing so, he should have a major chance of recording his fourth success over fences.
1pt win – Saint Segal
Odds – 5/2
