Saturday, 1 March is the big day for Kelso races in the Scottish Borders. It’s the Morebattle Hurdle card also featuring Listed action over fences and the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle.
A £100,000 bonus for any horse successful in the feature handicap who follows-up at the Cheltenham Festival only adds extra intrigue. The supporting card also contains a juvenile hurdle, two handicap chases and another handicap hurdle.
Kelso’s Premier Chase has the coup of Dan Skelton runner Grey Dawning declared to race. That is the biggest indication yet that he won’t contest the Cheltenham Gold Cup just 13 days later and instead has the alternative aim of the Aintree Bowl on 3 April.
The stable did see Le Milos turned over in the Scottish Borders, but main market rival Iroko has an entry at Newbury races in the Greatwood Gold Cup. If jockey bookings are anything to go by, however, then Kelso is the first preference.
A full field of 18 runners goes for the big betting race, meanwhile. Last year’s winner Cracking Rhapsody is back to defend his Morebattle Hurdle crown. Other in-form past course and distance scorers are in the line-up, though.
It’s the kind of puzzle that punters love having a flutter on horse racing betting sites to keep things interesting. Our experts have their say on all the action taking place at the Scottish Borders track. See the horses they say to keep an eye on…
Kelso Races Preview for Morebattle Hurdle Card
1:10 – 2m 1f Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-135)
A trappy opener where it may be worth giving another chance to HELNWEIN. Alan King’s seven-year-old is the youngest in the line-up and has had wind surgery since his last run. Helnwein chased home the now-148 rated mare Telepathique on his bow over fences around Warwick when trying to give that one 12lb.
If replicating that effort and his breathing operation has the desired effect, then he could be the one here. Topweight Real Stone hasn’t backed up a race in his career yet, so a 6lb higher mark down in trip around a sharper track comes with concerns. Lucinda Russell runs two, but Netywell isn’t in form right now.
Bollingerandkrug likes Kelso, meanwhile, and the choice of stable jockey Derek Fox. He has dropped in the weights to 9lb below his last winning mark over course and distance. It’s hard to make much of the case for the other two runners. Gallic Geordie is a 12-year-old and Kidman 2lb out of the handicap.
1:45 – Listed 2m 7.5f Premier Chase
A massive ease in grade for GREY DAWNING after contesting the Betfair Chase and King George. Skelton believes his popular grey doesn’t have a problem with sounder surfaces. The mud won’t be flying at Kelso races here, but Grey Dawning has 7lb and upwards in hand on Iroko on these terms.
Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero look more likely to run JP McManus’ Grand National prospect here than Newbury. There is no obvious reason why Iroko should reverse Cheltenham form with Grey Dawning here, though, and hasn’t won a race in three goes this season.
Russell mare El Elefante is clear third best. She jumped well and made all here over 2m 5f last time out. Exploring this longer trip with her makes sense based on her front-running display. Barrons Land is some way short of Listed class on ratings and all known form.
2:25 – 2m 5f Class 2 Handicap Hurdle (0-150)
Light shines brightest!
Bold Light powers clear late on to land the £30,000 Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle and complete a double for @lucindavrussell.@livescorebetuk pic.twitter.com/qlr7pw1HRW
— Musselburgh Racecourse (@MusselburghRace) January 1, 2025
This may be between the two horses rated 123 that have won at Kelso races before. Russell dropping BOLD LIGHT back in trip under 7lb claimer Jack Power just edges the vote. Taking that into account, he has the same mark as when bolting up around Musselburgh in the Hogmaneigh on New Year’s Day.
Skelton hat-trick seeker Ace Of Spades is a big danger, however, off an unchanged mark for his easy course success over further last time. This is his handicap debut and connections do well with their horses in this sphere. If not Bold Light, then Russell also runs Innox Allen down in distance.
He’s now dropped to a career low mark, but still looks lightly-raced for a seven-year-old. Topweight Mr Bramley has four wins in his last six, but has another 6lb hike for his latest Wetherby victory. Nab Wood is another course winner who unseated at the third hurdle around Haydock last time and could be worth forgiving that.
2:55 – 2m 2f Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle
Very open, but Willie Mullins sends CHART TOPPER to Kelso races with son Patrick keeping the ride. He won over this distance in real style around Downpatrick, then followed-up under a penalty at Wetherby. Chart Topper has a much easier task with Grade 1 placed Good And Clever not declared.
There are dangers, however, with fellow hurdles hat-trick seekers Castle Carrock and Vanderpoel chief among them. The former, trained by Alan King, lowered the colours of useful mare Diva Luna, who happens to be a stable companion of the latter. Both Castle Carrock and Vanderpoel go left-handed over these obstacles for the first time here.
It’s worth noting the excellent form of the Ben Pauling yard, who won this race last year, and his jockey Ben Jones. Penalised pair Dedicated Hero, who likes Kelso, and Roadlesstravelled have more on their plate giving weight all-round. Skelton mare Listentoyourheart may appreciate going up in trip, while Laganhill has done nothing wrong.
3:30 – 2m Class 2 Morebattle Hurdle
Horses towards the top of the feature handicap at Kelso races sit prominent in the market. Vischio has a whole stone more on her back than when bolting up in a Listed mares only event around Leopardstown last time. Emmet Mullins has won this race before, so you can see why online bookies have his runner favourite.
Class-dropping Tellherthename hasn’t anything of Sir Gino’s calibre to worry about after running fourth in the Fighting Fifth. Topweight Favour And Fortune continues his comeback for King. On a form line through Newbury second Lump Sum, he is closely matched with Tellherthename.
Two with past course and distance wins against the field, however, are ALNILAM and SLUGGER. Both look good each way bets. Alnilam is two from three around Kelso and up 4lb for landing a valuable Southwell handicap from the front. Slugger is much-improved since joining Harry Derham, meanwhile, landing a hat-trick this season.
Cracking Rhapsody is almost an entire stone (13lb) higher in the weights than when landing this 12 months ago. Last year’s runner-up Ginger Mail is 11lb better off with the winner now. Florida Dreams disappointed the last twice, but has dropped to his last successful mark and was then a fine fifth in the Greatwood Hurdle for Nicky Richards.
The going doesn’t look like being testing enough for Milldam, but the runner-up from his last time out Haydock win scored since. At massive odds, Old Gregorian has a fine Kelso record and is 5lb better off with Cracking Rhapsody from December’s course and distance encounter.
4:04 – 2m Class 3 Juvenile Hurdle
An official standard of 105 set by Maple at Kelso races is a very low bar. Derham debutant and Flat convert FILIBUSTERING may have too much for those with hurdling experience, providing his schooling has gone well. Placed from out of the weights in the York Finale in October, he could be one to follow now switched to jumps.
Elforleather wasn’t as useful on the Flat, but has experience of this sphere from Southwell. King’s recruit from Jack Channon looks the biggest danger to Filibustering. Maple is relatively exposed for Ruth Jefferson, but went very close around Catterick the last day and has the beating of Platin Moon on Musselburgh form.
Miners Gamble also hit the frame on hurdles debut around Market Rasen, so could take a step forward for that. It’s hard to see Platin Moon and The Three J’S landing a blow based on what they’ve achieved over obstacles so far.
4:39 – 2m 5.5f Class 3 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
Walk On Quest wins with authority for the @lucindavrussell yard, justifying favouritism in the Livescore Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Chase under Alan Doyle 🏆 pic.twitter.com/EBiQ8ZwQme
— Ayr Racecourse (@ayrracecourse) February 11, 2025
Could boil down to which of two in-form chasers has most up their sleeve. Russell’s WALK ON QUEST has already notched his hat-trick over fences and improved no end for switching to this sphere. Although another 10lb higher now, he has already scored around Kelso races and has more to offer at this longer trip.
In-form Pauling saddles hat-trick seeking Leader In The Park up 5lb for a narrow Warwick win. He may have won cosily, rather than the authoritative display at Ayr from Walk On Quest last time. The third from Leader In The Park’s prior Kempton victory has come out and won since.
In receipt of 9lb, Walk On Quest gets the vote. Leader In The Park is an obvious danger, while topweight Menaggio and Hashtag Boum both looking to bounce back from pulling-up and finishing third. The latter split next time out winners when runner-up around Uttoxeter.
