Barnes is chasing more success at Kelso with Bafana Blue

Maurice Barnes is after more success at Kelso today after the Cumbrian trained opened his account for the season at the same venue last month.

It was Saint Arvans that gave the Grand National- winning jockey his first success of 2020 two weeks ago and he is hoping for another strike with Bafana Blue in the Belhaven Best Wishing Well Handicap Chase.

Bred by Northumberland l and agent George White, he spent the early part of his career with Chris Grant but he has been with Barnes for the bulk of his races which have seen him successful seven times over fences.

His owners include Langholm- based parents of stable jockey Dale Irving who lost the ride to Ross Chapman when he was sidelined with injury last season.

Cheekpieces have been added to the tongue tie he is normally equipped with and he has dropped to just 3lbs above his last winning BHA rating.

Lucinda Russell, the victorious trainer 12 months ago with Well Above Par, is double- handed with Looks Like Murt and Voix D’eau while Almazhar Garde represents Oxfordshire trainer Charlie

Longsdon who bids to fill a gap on his cv.

The Oxfordshire trainer has had 14 previous runners without success at Kelso which is the only one of the current UK jumps courses where he is yet to saddle a winner.

Sceau Royal can further vindicate a change of plan by putting his name on the roll of honour again in the Unibet Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Alan King’s versatile eightyear- old won this race at his first attempt in open company back in 2016.

He has returned to Wincanton twice since, for the track’s other Grade Two hurdle over the minimum distance, and on each occasion has finished placed in the Kingwell.

Although he has spent the majorit y of his t i me i n t he i nter vening years admirably contesting top- class twomile chases, he proved that a switch back to this discipline suits him fine when winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las last month.