15:30
Kelso
Odds correct as of 3:42pm 27th Feb
There’s plenty happening on Saturday and the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso is the big race of the day. Interestingly, any horse that wins it and goes on to follow up at Cheltenham can win a big bonus so there will be plenty of interest. Here we take a look at some of the key talking points and provide two free tips, including a 25/1 outsider. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
The Shunter won this race for Irish trainer Emmet Mullins, before going on to follow up at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021. A similar plot could be on the cards this year, as he runs impressive Dublin Racing Festival winner Vischio.
Eight of the last nine winners have been eight or younger, with only one nine-year-old no 10-year-old’s winning in recent years. That means there are several horses that you may want rule out in your search for a winner.
There are two previous winners amongst the 18-runner field and only one horse has managed to win it twice over the last decade. Cormier and Cracking Rhapsody might be worth taking on with that in mind.
This is the fifth time the race will be run as a handicap and 135 is the highest winning mark during this time. Only Favour and Fortune (140) has a mark in excess of that figure and the Scottish Champion Hurdle winner would need to produce a career best effort here.
Vischio was an impressive winner of a seemingly competitive mares’ handicap hurdle at Leopardstown last time out and she was well in control on the day. The handicapper hasn’t made her life easier, allotting her a British mark of 133, but she probably wouldn’t be running if Emmet Mullins was unhappy with it.
Milldam (25/1, bet365) has been progressing nicely since last season and Jamie Snowden’s gelding won well at Haydock in December. Improvement will be needed after a 7lb rise but he’s clearly going the right way and jockey Ben Jones is on fire at the moment.
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