1:25 Kelso Tips

They said it would need the experience on his chase bow over C&D last time and that the ground would be too quick for him. The fact that he was held up in the rear told its own story, but he stayed on nicely into fifth. The six-year-old should strip fitter for that return to action and the softer ground will be in his favour too. Hopefully he is ridden more prominently this time and runners from this yard have been improving a fair bit with a run under their belt.

Just six runs under rules, not doing a lot wrong in his two chase starts. Beaten under 10L in both races, 4th and 2nd, in two class 3 handicap races. He would have learned plenty, coming off a two-month break. Good jockey, nice mark, now running in a class 4 handicap, and he ticks plenty of boxes.

Makes his seasonal reappearance. Sent straight over the larger obstacles for the first time. He's 4 lbs above his last winning mark, which was gained over hurdles admittedly. That win did come at this track, over shorter than this (2M 5F). He found plenty for pressure in a sustained battle with the runner-up Forged Well, eventually beating him a short head. He's got plenty of experience at this track, boasting 3 wins and 2 places from 8 runs at this course. He's never run over this trip but did place over 1F shorter last term at this track, finishing 2nd behind Nab Wood, beaten 3L. The winner franked the form, winning off a 9 lbs higher mark on his most recent run. Lack of recent run is no issue. He won on reappearance in 2023. If he can translate his hurdles form over the larger obstacles, I think he's got a bit up his sleeve off this type of mark.