Nicholls’ Calva D’auge is one to watch as he bids to be a TV star in Kelso hurdle
The ITV cameras are at Kelso today for the feature race – the £50,000 William Hill Premier Novices Hurdle.
The race was first run in 1990 and was awarded Grade 2 status in 2003. Last year the spoils went to the Harry Whittington-trained Rouge Vif , who was third in Grade 1 company at Aintree a few weeks later and has a live chance of capturing the Arkle Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next month.
Paul Nicholls, inset, the winning trainer in 2016 with subsequent Grand Annual Chase hero Le Prezien, saddles Calva D’auge who has scored at Plumpton and Wincanton this year.
Other interesting entries include Ruth Jefferson’s Clondaw Caitlin, unbeaten in two impressive previous runs over hurdles, and the Jennie Candlish-trained Cheddleton, a four-length winner over two miles at Kelso last month.
The valuable seven-race card also features the William Hill
Leading Racecourse Bookmakers Premier Chase, a Class 1 Listed Chase over three miles which has been used by many horses as a stepping stone to the Grand National.
Sandy Thomson, the Greenlaw trainer, was successful in 2017 with Seldom Inn and is double-handed with Dimple, and Seeyouatmidnight. “Midnight”, as he is known at Lambden, was retired shortly after finishing 11th behind Tiger Roll in the 2018 Grand National but has made a miraculous recovery and could now appear at the scene of his triumph in the 2015 Paris Pike Novices’ Chase. Top-ratedintheraceis Definitely Red who runs off a BHA mark of 156. Brian Ellison’s Grand National entry was beaten at odds of 1-6 by Captain Redbeard over course and distance 12 months ago, although this should be a less tactical affair with five runners going to post.
The final race of the day is the Alan Clydesdale Memorial Conditional Jockeys Chase – which is open only to horses aged ten years and older.
Fledging trainer Jack R Barber could have his first runner in Scotland in the shape of recent Plumpton winner Ask The Weatherman. Somersetbased Jack is the grandson of the late Richard Barber who started an illustrious point-topoint training career from the same yard 30 years ago and is a name to watch for the future.
At Newbury, Not Another Muddle can offer a simple solution to the William Hill
Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase.
This Grade Three handicap provides a brief detour from the Cheltenham chatter, already busy building up to its famous roar on 10 March.
As such, it is often a fertile hunting ground for a top trainer who has plenty of extra ammunition at his disposal to pick up a handsome prize with a horse who might be a stable star elsewhere, but is not destined for the Festival.
Paul Nicholls very obviously fits that bill, and it is therefore no surprise to learn he has already won the race nine timesandhasthreemoreshots to fire this time – including last year’s winner San Benedeto.
They are all respected, along with several others, but inevitably will be short enough in the market.
At Doncaster, Cill Anna has an obvious chance in the 888Sport Take ‘Em On Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Nicholls’ five-year-old has Festival pretensions next month – but she is potentially better at this stayers’ trip , and definitely has the form credentials to go close at Listed level.