Kelso Morebattle Hurdle Day Betting Tips
Kelso hosts its Premier meeting on Saturday, when connections will be eyeing the £100,000 bonus up for grabs for winning the Morebattle Hurdle.
That feature handicap is supplemented by the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (14:55) and the Listed Premier Chase (13:45).
There are seven races in all at Kelso on Saturday and we have selected our best bets.
13:10 - Handicap Chase (2m1f)
HELNWEIN won the valuable novice handicap hurdle at Sandown in April, form that's been franked with the runner-up going down narrowly in the Greatwood, and he looked set to make a winning debut over fences in November before just being outstayed by a race-fit rival, who was in receipt of 12lb and is now rated 32lb higher. He looks well handicapped on that piece of form and recent wind surgery should hopefully allow him to see out this race better.
13:45 - Premier Chase (Listed, 2m7½f)
Grey Dawning has a lot in hand on ratings and a reproduction of his Chase second might be good enough, but the entire season has been about the Grand National for IROKO and he might just show exactly how good he is now the weights for Aintree’s showpiece have been published. His form isn’t as strong as the favourite, but this is the first time he’s tackled a proper test of stamina since finishing second in a Grade 1 at Aintree as a novice in April and he’s sure to improve for it, while the ground will suit him better.
14:20 - Handicap Hurdle (2m5f)
A step up in trip looked the right move for BOLD LIGHT after being outpaced over two miles in a Grade 2 at Haydock in November and he duly delivered an impressive success in the Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day. His third in a warm three-mile novice last time out confirmed the improvement he showed on his previous start and this course winner is expected to bounce back now he is returned to handicap company.
14:55 - Premier Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m2f)
There are plenty in the field who are open to improvement, but the Willie Mullins-trained CHART TOPPER has looked useful in his two starts and is clear on the figures. He strolled home to the tune of 25 lengths in a Downpatrick maiden hurdle over this trip in August and impressed with how he quickly drew clear at Wetherby last time when asked for his effort. His assured jumping is a major asset, while the return to a longer trip will suit.
15:30 - Morebattle Hurdle (2m)
Having looked an excellent prospect for Ben Pauling last season, TELLHERTHENAME took his form up a notch when fourth in the Fighting Fifth on his stable debut for Jonjo and AJ O’Neill in December. He was expected to badly need the run that day, so it was a huge positive to see him split subsequent William Hill Hurdle runner-up Lump Sum and Take No Chances, who has since landed a Grade 2. A 2lb rise leaves him well treated back in a handicap and he has ground conditions to suit.
16:04 - Juvenile Hurdle (2m)
The standard set by those with hurdling experience is not that high, so it’s worth siding with the fairly useful Flat performer FILIBUSTERING for Harry Derham, who landed this contest 12 months ago. The best of these on the Flat by some way, the four-year-old was last seen finishing second at York in October off a rating of 74 and has subsequently changed hands for 68,000 guineas. Derham’s yard is going very well and he could have too much for his rivals if taking to this discipline at the first time of asking.
16:39 - Cyril Alexander Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (2m5½f)
A few of these come into the race in better form than STEP OUT, but the Irish challenger looks well treated on this step up in trip. He was beaten less than two lengths on his chasing debut at Ayr in November by Immortal Fame, who has franked the form with two subsequent wins. He returns to Britain just 1lb higher and with more experience, having finished third in a rated novice chase over an inadequate trip, and he can take advantage in receipt of weight all round.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation