Thomson says Benson in ‘great form’ as he bids to defend Morebattle crown at Kelso

Last year’s hero Benson is set to defend his crown in the £120,000 bet365 Morebattle Handicap Hurdle, the centrepiece on a star-studded £310,000 card at Kelso today.

And once again there is a £100,000 bonus up for grabs should the winner go on to to land any race at the Cheltenham Festival later in the month – Benson, trained locally by Sandy Thomson, was pulled up in the Coral Cup but the bonus was scooped in 2021 by The Shunter.

“He’s got a big weight but he comes here in great form after two huge runs at Musselburgh in January and February,” said Thomson, who is a guest on ITV Racing’s morning programme, which is broadcast live from the track.

As well as the top-weight, the Lambden handler also saddles Bass Rock while the likely favourite is Nicky Hendersontrained mare Under Control, a close runner-up in a Grade 2 hurdle at Doncaster in January.

Henderson’s Jango Baie is also likely to head the market for the £55,000 Grade 2 bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle.

He won the Grade 1 Formby Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day and third-placed Cannock Park, trained by Hawick exjockey Paul Robson, is among the opposition again.

There is also plenty of quality in the £50,000 Listed bet365 Premier Chase.

Jonjo O’neill’s leading Grand National fancy Monbeg Genius dominates the betting for a trainer successful in the 2021 renewal with Cloth Cap.

Aye Right, trained jointly at Jedburgh by Harriet Graham and Gary Rutherford, has been operating in veterans’ chases this term and has been unlucky not to have got his 11-year-old head in front.

Meanwhile, Some Scope hacked up at Doncaster last time and a Town Moor double is on the cards in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase.

Richard Hobson's charge has won two of his three chase starts, with the trainer opting to skip the novice ranks entirely so far with this sixyear-old.

An initial fifth has been left long behind, with a Catterick win followed by his seven-and-a-half-length victory over three miles here, staying on strongly to suggest an extra two furlongs in this heat will cause little concern.

A 10lb rise is certainly not ideal, but Some Scope appeared to win with plenty in hand and might not have finished improving yet.