The Premier Raceday meeting today is up north at Kelso Racecourse in Scotland.
Described as ‘Britain’s Friendliest Racecourse’, this country course hosts a seven-race card, headlined by the Group 2 Bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (16h55). Track conditions are posted as good to soft.
We’re racing at Britain’s Friendliest Racecourse today (Pic – Kelso Racecourse on FB)
Ten runners contest over the 2-mile, 2-furlong trip for the £42713 first prize. Bookmakers make it an open contest with the unbeaten (under rules) Vanderpoel and the Irish raider Chart Topper joint favourites at 3/1, with Alan King’s Castle Carrock not far behind at 15/4. Add in top-weight Dedicated Hero at 5/1 and this contest comprising many progressive sorts looks competitive.
Dedicated Hero, trained locally by Sandy Thomson must be considered having won four of his five starts, but his 5lb penalty is a negative.
Castle Carrock is unbeaten in two starts including an impressive romp in a Sandown Novice where he turned over Diva Luna, a 1/5 favourite, trained by Ben Pauling. This unexposed six-year-old could have any amount of improvement.
Chart Topper raids from Ireland for Willie Mullins with his son Patrick in the irons. A winner when raiding at Wetherby last month, he has improved over hurdles and has won around a left-hand track like he faces on Saturday.
However, they all could be chasing Vanderpoel home. His trainer Ben Pauling will have a line on Castle Carrock, and is officially rated 1lb higher than Dedicated Hero, but receives 5lbs from him here.
The stable is in red hot form, having had 11 wins from their last 20 runners, and this son of Sholokhov looks to have a touch of class judging by his three facile victories.
Earlier on the card, leading trainer Dan Skelton has a realistic chance of a treble.
The English trainer raids with top-weight Red Stone in the opener, the bet 365 Handicap Chase (15h10). Red Stone has six rivals to contend with but won his last start at Wetherby four weeks ago with ease.
Stable star Grey Dawning seeks redemption in the bet365 Premier Chase (15h45), a listed contest. Three oppose headed by Iroko, but on official ratings, Grey Dawning looks hard to beat.
Finally, the progressive Ace Of Spades runs for the Skeltons in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle (16h20). The six-year-old has improved in each of his four starts over hurdles winning the last two in good style.
All three will be ridden by Dan’s brother, the top-class Harry Skelton.
