'This has been the target for some time' - analysis and key quotes for the Ladbrokes Go North Series Final

With an uncertain forecast overnight and into Saturday, it is hard to gauge what conditions the field will face by 2.25. Kelso is a track that tends to favour prominent racers when there’s good in the going description, as seen when Romeo Brown made all to win this race in 2022 on good ground.

Sayva will be bidding to replicate those tactics in this year’s running. He won back-to-back races from the front prior to Christmas and paid the price for getting into a pace duel when turned over in his hat-trick bid. He'd be a dangerous runner to give an uncontested lead to if the rain stays away.

Ridin Solo is another potential front-runner after his all-the-way win in a Sedgefield maiden hurdle last month. However, there are mixed signals on the strength of that race and he’ll need to step up on previous handicap form shown at Catterick and Ayr. 

Ashington has turned into an intermediate trip specialist in recent times, getting the better of a well-backed rival when stepped back up to 2m5f at Doncaster last week. He’s well enough treated on old form to think he can be in the mix from 4lb higher, particularly if the rain stays away.

After two narrow defeats in handicap hurdles on contrasting ground this term, it is easy to see why the locally trained I Am Max has been installed as the early favourite. He was arguably unlucky not to get the race in the stewards’ room at Haydock last time having met interference, and while up 5lb, he’s less exposed than most.

The Jeweller’s Pet’s recent improvement has coincided with running on soft or heavy ground, and if conditions deteriorate, he shouldn’t be underestimated in his bid for three on the spin, despite a sharp rise in class.
Analysis by Phill Anderson

What they say

AJ O'Neill, joint-trainer of Sayva
He's been going well. We've been happy with his season so far and Benjamin Macey takes 7lb off, so hopefully we can have a bit of fun with him.

Mark Walford, trainer of Ashington
He won well at Doncaster last time. It's a bit of a quick turnaround but with the money on offer we have to have a go. We'd have liked to have qualified him two weeks before, but he's still in good shape and we're keeping Paddy Barlow on him to claim 7lb. We're hoping for a nice performance.

Sandy Thomson, trainer of I Am Max
He was very unlucky last time, but has got a great chance in this. I hope he's come on from his last run a bit and it's not been a bad thing keeping him over hurdles this season after falling over fences. Hopefully he can pick up some good money.

Harry Derham, trainer of Nordic Tiger
This has been the target for some time. His form figures aren't great but he's been running well on soft ground to a point and we expect this much better surface to help him.

Ewan Whillans, trainer of Galahad Threepwood
We're hopeful rather than confident, but he looks well and his runs over hurdles have been okay. He doesn't need to be ridden too handy, but it's a big field and we can hopefully ride him to pick up the pieces and sneak into an each-way place.

Lucinda Russell, trainer of Starlyte
We're going with hope. She's been quite a revelation since we changed the way we ride her at home. She's coming into this off a good break, but that's because we've kept her fresh for this.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

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