January 14 / 14.50 Kelso

14.50

Soft

Kelso Betting Ring Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6601.25
  • 2m 0f 51y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
Kelso Betting Ring Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34

Form: 22P-20 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Down the field at Cheltenham (2m1f, soft) last month in a first-time visor, but he's back in his usual cheekpieces today in which he went very close at Ayr (2m, good to soft) in November; has won on soft ground; can play a leading role if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Ginger Mail

11st 4lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Exposed 10yo whose powers would appear to be on the wane judged on this season's performances; opposable.

33/1

11th

6

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Ginger Mail

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

10yo whose mark continues to fall and he took a step back in the right direction when third of seven at Ayr a fortnight ago; it's possible he'll be able to build on that latest run but he was beaten just over 7l and certainly needs a bigger performance this afternoon.

14/1

3rd

3

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Ayr

Ginger Mail

11st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Boasts two wins around here, one over this distance, but has been below his best this term and was pulled up at Kelso (2m, heavy) last month in race won by Triple Crown Ted; hard to fancy.

16/1

Form: 6-1412 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who scored at Hexham (2m, heavy) in November on second hurdle start and was close second under a penalty at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) last time; this lightly raced 5yo is a half-brother to useful stablemate Cracking Destiny and could continue to progress now handicapping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

15

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Cracking Rhapsody

10st 8lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Flagbearer for the yard, winning two Morebattles at Kelso and a Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr; however, he's failed to find his best form this season, including only sixth in the latest running of the Morebattle 13 days ago; respectable seventh in this last year; others are more obvious.

33/1

6th

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Cracking Rhapsody

11st 13lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Not at his best this season but Haydock last month was a step back in the right direction, after a wind op; has won here four times, including the last two runnings of this race (good to soft), and he's 1lb lower than when winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle last April; major player.

6/1

6th

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

12:50 Haydock

Cracking Rhapsody

12st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Below par on both runs this season but has had wind surgery since and he's back down to the same mark as for his win in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr (2m, good to soft); not ruled out on this drop in grade.

13/2

Form: 75-721 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who returned to form when going very close at Musselburgh (1m7f, soft) in November, then went one better at Haydock (1m7f, heavy); he did it nicely last time and a 5lb rise may not prevent a follow-up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

9th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 4

14:15 Musselburgh

The Churchill Lad

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

sweating, took keen hold, led, headed but prominent before 5th, mistake and lost position 8th, rallying when mistake 4 out, weakened before 3 out

4/1

1

9th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 4

14:15 Musselburgh

The Churchill Lad

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Front-runner who won on chase debut at Hexham (1m7f, good) in October and has run well in second the next twice (2m/1m7f, good to soft/good); he's fine at this trip (and on a variety of ground) and was effective here over hurdles; can make another bold bid.

4/1

2nd

2

8th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:45 Hexham

The Churchill Lad

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Winning hurdler who has taken well to fences, beating Caithness by a head over C&D on debut last month before fair second off this 4lb higher mark at Carlisle (2m, good to soft); should go well again.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 13-136 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Disappointing at Haydock three weeks ago but perhaps the heavy ground was too much; progressive previously, winning a C&D handicap (good to soft) before a creditable third at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft); has also shown promise on soft; lightly raced and could go well if handling conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:10 Perth

Bois Guillbert

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Three-time hurdle winner who has dropped to a mark 5lb lower than when winning on his chase debut last February; he may stage a revival at some stage but has struggled over fences/hurdles on his three runs this season.

50/1

10th

5

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

14:30 Musselburgh

Bois Guillbert

11st 12lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Returns to hurdles off a workable mark but, judged on his chase efforts this term, has a doubt over current form.

25/1

3

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:18 Perth

Bois Guillbert

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Jumped okay when winning at Newcastle (chase debut) but lacked fluency when disappointing at Wetherby since; not sure what to expect.

10/1

Non-runners

Russian Virtue

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.80
Straight Forecast £11.02
Trifecta £21.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Churchill Lad

POSTDATA:

Russian Virtue

The Times:

Cracking Rhapsody

D Express:

Cracking Rhapsody

RP RATINGS:

The Churchill Lad

TOPSPEED:

The Churchill Lad

Telegraph:

The Churchill Lad

Daily Mirror:

The Churchill Lad

The Star:

Russian Virtue

Daily Record:

Russian Virtue