2.05pm Kelso Tips & Betting Preview 08/10/2017

2.05pm Kelso tips for Sunday’s Class 4 race. The second division of a two mile hurdle with a little over £4.500 on offer to the winner. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: Picture Painter isn’t obviously well handicapped on his novice form but he looks a solid each way contender on debut for Keith Dalgleish, who does well with new recruits. Ready preference is for DANCE OF FIRE, who was smart on the flat for Andrew Balding and has cheekpieces on for the first time over hurdles, with the aid working wonders for him on the flat. He is thrown in on the best of his flat runs and should prove very tough to beat under Lucy Alexander.

1 ROUGE ET SAGE – Smart form when trained in France, including when runner-up in a Listed race. Has shown nothing close to that for his current yard. A first time tongue strap is fitted, but he makes limited appeal despite what should be a workable mark.

2 ALPHABETICAL ORDER – More than three years since last appearing in this discipline, he has regressed on the flat this season. Formerly smart, the return to hurdles could spark him back into life with trip and ground both suitable.

3 ASUM – Claimed the scalp of the smart Amour De Nuit in the spring for his previous yard. Was kept primarily to a better surface than this which is a concern starting out for new connections off the back of a near five month break.

4 DANCEINTOTHELIGHT – Bold front runner has done the majority of his winning over longer trips. Conditions are fine but looks vulnerable to quicker rivals up the hill from this high in the weights.

5 PICTURE PAINTER – Yet to score in twenty starts, he starts out for Keith Dalgleish here. Not obviously well treated on his novice form but handles cut in the ground fine and may sneak into the places.

6 DARK AND DANGEROUS – Picked up four wins at Sedgefield in a ten week span starting last Boxing Day. The blinkers he wore for all are missing now so he is passed over away from his favoured track on his return.

7 WEAPON OF CHOICE – Better suited to a slightly sharper test at the trip, he travelled like a winner here in May but was outstayed up the hill. Only two pounds higher than his last win, so far from handicapped out of things if his stamina holds out.

8 DANCE OF FIRE – Smart on the flat for Andrew Balding but has shown little so far in this discipline. Cheekpieces are on for the first time over hurdles which is an interesting development as he ran well in them on the flat, while he is thrown in on the best of his flat form. Should prove tough to beat under Lucy Alexander.

9 BOHERNAGORE – A winner just once from nineteen starts, he has placed twice recently in lesser company. Those have pushed him six pounds above his win, that makes this look a tough task for him.