A warm border welcome from Kelso racecourse today, where the highest rated race in the UK over the weekend, the Gr2 bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle starts at 15h32.
Track conditions are likely to be soft underfoot.
Nine runners contest the Scottish feature and the market is headed by the in-form Donald McCain trained Richmond Lake with champion jockey Brian Hughes retaining the ride.
The six-year-old has led in all four starts for his leading conditioner and was gallant in defeat six weeks ago when splitting two highly regarded sorts in Jonbon and Mighty I in a Grade 2 at Haydock. The unbeaten Jonbon is a leading player in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival and that form is strong. Richmond Lake has won twice on soft ground.
Main danger is North Lodge, unbeaten in two starts under rules, and he caught the eye with a taking victory at Cheltenham in January when having too much in hand for the Henderson trained Balco Coastal. The Alan King trained runner has to concede a Gr2 penalty of 5lbs to the field, so the vote goes to Richmond Lake.
Brian Hughes could double up in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle (16h05) where he rides the Nicky Richards trained Famous Bridge. The six-year-old has only 10 stone 3lbs on his back. He unseated Hughes at the second last over course and distance after travelling well into the race and could be ‘well in’ here.
The Skelton yard field the classy Wilde About Oscar and Flash The Steel, but they both have to concede more than a stone to the selection.
Later on the card, the Listed bet365 Premier Chase gets underway at 16h40.
Itchy Feet can make his fitness tell in a field of seven. Espoir De Romay is clear on the ratings, but he lacks a recent run which will make things tough over this marathon trip of close on three miles.
Olly Murphy’s runner has run three times this season for three places, including his recent fourth at Lingfield in January.
Beaten just under three lengths in fourth in the Fleur De Lys Chase, he was held up early on before making late progress at the finish. The form looks very strong given the winner Two For Gold’s subsequent second at Ascot in the Gr1 Chase while the third horse Bristol De Mai ran an honourable second at Haydock next time out when conceding 19lbs in the Grand National Trial.
With Harry Skelton riding at Kelso, Bridget Andrews is reunited with the talented mare Get A Tonic at Doncaster in the Listed Virgin Bet Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (16h20).
The six-year-old ran a cracker at this level at Warwick last month, being beaten three lengths by the Cheltenham bound Marie’s Rock in just her fifth hurdles start.
Get A Tonic deserves plenty of credit as she was 15lbs worse off with Marie’s Rock than she would have been in a handicap, and she should prove too strong for Miss Fairfax who should follow her home.
