Tag Archive for: Kelso

Snowden able to look back with pride on efforts of Cheltenham team

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Jamie Snowden had a surprisingly clear head the morning after You Wear It Well took the Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and is in no rush to make plans for the Grade Two winner.

Nine years on from the Lambourn trainer’s first Festival success with Present View, Gavin Sheehan’s mount was up there all the wa and held off Magical Zoe to score at odds of 16-1.

“She trotted out like a gazelle,” Snowden said. “She’s fantastic, still biting everyone.”

The six-year-old, who is owned by Sir Chips Keswick, could head to Fairyhouse for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final on April 9.

Snowden said: “We will see how she is before making a plan. She is obviously still in the Grade One at Fairyhouse over Easter. I put her in that a couple of weeks ago.

“That is still an option, but we’ll see how we go with her.”

He added: “We will certainly jump a fence with her before her summer holiday and see where we go next year.”

Meanwhile Ga Law, winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November before falling when looking the likely winner of Doncaster’s Sky Bet Chase in January, could still run in a Grand National, albeit the Scottish version.

The fast-improving seven-year-old stayed on to finish fifth to Envoi Allen in the Ryanair Chase.

Ga Law could run in a Grand National after all - at Ayr
Ga Law could run in a Grand National after all – at Ayr (David Davies/PA)

“I thought it was a good run,” said Snowden. “Obviously we know he wants further than that trip, but we were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

“The Gold Cup was a silly option and the Ryanair was too short, but I think he has run to the same level of form he did in the Sky Bet Chase, which was improved form on the Paddy Power.

“I thought it was a cracking run, especially on the back of a nasty fall.

“The long-term plan will be next year’s Grand National. He stays very well, he’s just not very quick. He was outpaced all the way in the Paddy Power and stayed on up the hill.

“He has possibly run a career-best over a trip that is too short, first time up in Grade One company, so he’s run a belter to finish fifth.”

“He’s not qualified for the Grand National next month, so that is a great shame, as that would have been great for him.

“There is obviously the option of going for the Betfair Bowl at Aintree. There is the Grade Two Oaksey Chase at Sandown, which we will consider, and there is half an eye on the Scottish National as well. We have got a couple of options.”

Snowden is also looking to the future with Colonel Harry, whose brave effort to make all the running in the bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso two weeks ago was scuppered when narrowly beaten by Nemean Lion.

The six-year-old had finished just behind Kerry Lee’s runner when fourth in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown and, having backed that up with victory at Newcastle, Snowden was content to see the the Grade One form hold fast.

Snowden is excited by the prospect of seeing Colonel Harry jumping fences next season
Snowden is excited by the prospect of seeing Colonel Harry jumping fences next season (Steven Paston/PA)

“It was a great run at Kelso, “ said Snowden. “That was over two miles two (furlongs). A lot of his pedigree is over two miles.

“I think he wants two miles on deep ground – I think that’s his ideal.

“It was a brave effort and it upheld the Tolworth form with Nemean Lion.

“He will be a lovely chaser for next season. We might have half a look at Aintree, depending on what the weather does, but he’s certainly one I’m looking forward to over a fence next year.”

Fowler hoping Mustard can make Festival date

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Lorna Fowler remains “hopeful” stable star Colonel Mustard will be fit for next week’s Cheltenham Festival despite suffering an overreach in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday.

The eight-year-old finished third behind Champion Hurdle aspirant State Man and the high-class First Street in the County Hurdle 12 months ago and connections are keen to have another crack at the fiercely-competitive handicap from only 3lb higher in the weights.

However, his participation at Prestbury Park was thrown into some doubt after he returned to Ireland with what is hoped to be a minor injury following his runner-up finish in the Scottish Borders.

Fowler said: “We’ll see how we go. If we get a full green light we’ll definitely go to the County Hurdle, but we’ll just have to make sure we’re happy with that overreach.

“At the moment I’d say we’re pretty hopeful. It’s 50-50 from the point of view that we’ll only go there if he’s 100 per cent.

“If I run him I won’t be worried about the overreach. We just want to check there’s nothing going on that we don’t know about, but he’s in brilliant form I have to say.”

After chasing home Arkle favourite El Fabiolo over fences at Fairyhouse in December, Colonel Mustard reverted to the smaller obstacles at Kelso, mainly due to the fact Morebattle Hurdle sponsors bet365 were offering a £100,000 bonus to the winner if they can follow up in any race at Cheltenham.

The Sandy Thomson-trained Benson looks set to go in search of the lucrative double, with the Coral Cup his likely target, after reeling in Colonel Mustard on the run-in and going on to score by two lengths.

Fowler admitted to being “heartbroken” to be beaten, but is trying to take positives out of the defeat.

“I was heartbroken. All credit to the winner, but I’m not going to pretend I wasn’t gutted because I thought we had it,” she added.

“I went to Kelso with a lot of confidence and tried the big double. Obviously it hasn’t worked, but he ran super and the positive is if we do go to Cheltenham, we don’t have to carry a 5lb penalty.

“The negative is he had a long journey and back and has this overreach to deal with, but having said that, if it’s a conclusive go-ahead with that and I’m happy, I don’t think that will stand in his way.

“He’s a very lightly-raced and fresh horse this season and travels well, so given his form you’d like to think he has a bit of a chance.”

Fowler confirmed 3lb claimer Kieran Buckley will keep the ride should Colonel Mustard line up in the Cotswolds on Friday week.

She said: “Kieran will take 3lb off his back. He knows the horse and that would look the sensible thing to do, definitely.

“He knows Cheltenham and has ridden a winner there before, so that all helps too.”

Steel toughs it out in Premier Chase prize

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Empire Steel capped a fine day for local handler Sandy Thomson and jockey Ryan Mania when hunting down Le Milos in the dying strides to seal the bet365 Premier Chase.

The race was supposed to put the finishing touches to the Randox Grand National preparations of Dan Skelton’s 10-11 favourite, but it was the locally-trained nine-year-old who bolstered his spring credentials – with a trip to the Scottish National rather than Aintree now likely.

With Le Milos and Wishing And Hoping disputing things on the front end, the chances of the course-and-distance winner looked to have gone when he made a mistake five out and was again sticky at the fourth last.

Victory looked a formality for the race favourite and Harry Skelton was searching for dangers clearing the last. But the Lodge Hill raider start to look weary and with Mania having had time to fill up Empire Steel’s tank, the dashing grey could sense a struggling target was in reach.

He stuck his neck out and responded resolutely to his rider’s urgings and with Le Milos waning with every stride, Empire Steel collared him in the shadow of the post to score at odds of 4-1 and seal a 59-1 double for the Lambden Racing operation following Benson’s win in the Morebattle Hurdle.

“I’m delighted for the horse that he’s won a decent race, we’ve always thought a lot of him,” said Thomson.

“He was very unlucky at Wetherby (Rowland Meyrick, 2021) a year and a half or so ago and it hasn’t quite gone right gone for him since. But he seems to run to get a rating of around 152 whenever he runs round here and has done it again.

“You are always delighted when a horse who has ability gets one in the bag and no one can ever take it away from him.”

The Borders handler was winning the Listed event for a second time following Seldom Inn’s success in 2017 and having taken advantage of those with the Grand National at Aintree in the back of their mind, Empire Of Steel will try to break Thomson’s duck in the Scottish equivalent at Ayr.

“I’ve been lucky Seldom Inn won it, Seeyouatmidnight was third and Hill Sixteen was second, so it was nice to get another winner in the race,” continued Thomson.

“The Shunter won his money and I’m not sure he’s the horse he used to be and although the Skeltons will be annoyed they got beaten, they will be delighted with the Grand National trial that their horse ran.

“If we get 4lb or 5lb and up to around 146, then I would be quite happy and the Scottish National would be the aim.

“The great thing today is he has won on good to soft ground, whereas in the past his better performances were on soft and heavy ground, so I’m absolutely delighted with him and I don’t think you will see him before the Scottish National. There’s nothing really at Aintree that fits the bill and I think the Scottish National will be his sort of race.”

On the big-race double at his local track, he added: “It’s been an unbelievable day. To have one winner is great but to win the two big races here is incredible.”

Nemean Lion roars to Premier victory for Kerry Lee

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Sandown third Nemean Lion gave the Tolworth Hurdle form a boost as he got the better of the fourth on that occasion, Colonel Harry, to pick up the bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso.

The Kerry Lee-trained six-year-old was the best part of three lengths ahead of Colonel Harry when they clashed on deep ground in January and Richard Patrick was content to bide his time in mid-division aboard the 4-1 winner as Jamie Snowden’s 7-2 favourite attempted to make all.

Gavin Sheehan upped the tempo after three out as the pack began to swarm and he did a good job of putting the field under pressure and beating off most of the opposition as he swung into the straight still in command of the contest.

However, old adversary Nemean Lion was still travelling and having jumped the last matching strides, a slight error from Colonel Harry allowed the Will Roseff-owned gelding to strike the front and it was he who roared loudest at the finish to come home the best part of two lengths clear.

Lee said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the horse. It took us seven hours to get here, but it was absolutely worth it.

“He came here with a good performance under his belt and we were hopeful. It was a good, solid performance from him.

“Colonel Harry was one of the big dangers, I know they were sweet on their horse, and it was interesting that the Grade One horses did come to the fore.

“We’ve clearly got a very nice horse on our hands. I think he appreciated the track. I don’t think the distance was an issue, I just think he didn’t relish the hill at Sandown and Kelso is a little bit kinder in that respect.”

The winner holds an entry for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with Betfair going 25-1 from 50s for the Prestbury Park opener, but Lee admits that looks unlikely at present.

She added: “I would say on two levels that Cheltenham is not very likely. First of all the ground, he’s quite a fragile horse and we have to be very careful – we came to Kelso for that reason, for the ground.

“I don’t think the ground at Cheltenham will suit and it would be very quick on him.

“I won’t be pushing for Cheltenham but that said, if it came up soft and he was bouncing, then we might consider it.

“We will be looking to Aintree, Fairyhouse and Punchestown, keeping our options open.”

Benson swoops late to bag Morebattle honours

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Benson pounced late to deliver a telling blow for local handler Sandy Thomson in the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso, setting up a potential tilt at a £100,000 bonus if able to quickly follow up at the Cheltenham Festival.

Heading into the contest on the back of clear-cut victory at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day, the eight-year-old was sent off at odds of 11-1 to reward those who follow the Lambden-based handler at his local track.

Kept quiet in rear by jockey Ryan Mania as Irish raider Wajaaha set some hot fractions, he was smuggled into the contest and loomed large as the Lorna Fowler-trained Colonel Mustard hit the front and set for home after two out.

Mania was still to produce Benson as Colonel Mustard’s stride began to shorten jumping the last, but he soon edged past the game Irish challenger with the winning post approaching and the victory was arguably worth a more than the official verdict of two lengths.

Victory now offers connections the chance to add an extra £100,000 to the pot if able to add to this victory at Prestbury Park later this month.

The winner holds entries in both the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, with Coral making the horse a 20-1 shot for both contests.

However, Thomson is willing to bide his time before naming Benson’s Festival assignment.

He said: “The great thing is he has only been out of his box for about four hours, which can make a great difference when you are thinking of going again and we will obviously have to go. You have got to try – how good he is, nobody actually knows.

“I’ve got to speak to the owners and chat about it. He will get into the Coral Cup now – on 134 he was perhaps on the brink and what weight he has and what Ryan can do could influence it. Ryan obviously struggles a bit with his weight, but if he gets 10st 9lb or 10st 10lb hopefully he would be able to do that.

“But firstly we will enjoy today then go home, get all the forms filled in for Cheltenham and take it from there.”

Premier prize in Colonel Harry’s sights

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Colonel Harry will bid to give the Tolworth Hurdle form a boost when he lines up in the Grade Two bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday.

Jamie Snowden’s six-year-old won a heavy-ground Sandown maiden hurdle in November before finishing fourth in the Grade One Tolworth over the same course and distance.

Though he jumped left on occasions, finishing six and a quarter lengths behind Tahmuras, he backed up that promising run with an eight-length success in a Newcastle novice.

Back up in class, he again takes on Nemean Lion, who was two and three-quarter lengths ahead of him in third at Sandown.

Snowden said: “It is a competitive race, but obviously our lad has won two novice hurdles and he ran very well at Sandown, when he jumped slightly out to his left, in the Tolworth.

“That probably looks the best form coming into this and Nemean Lion was only just in front of us that day, so hopefully a reproduction of that form on a left-handed track might see him to better effect.

“He is a nice horse, but I hope the ground is what they say it is. He definitely wants softer ground – he wouldn’t want good ground.”

Accidental Rebel goes in search of a fifth win in six and will carry top weight, shouldering a penalty for landing Chepstow’s Grade Two Persian War Novices’ Hurdle when equipped with first-time cheekpieces on his previous start.

The headgear remains and trainer Fergal O’Brien is hopeful he will be fresh for his first run in 148 days.

He said: “He has done very well and we gave him a break after he won the Persian War.

“We had him back in for the Challow, but the ground went bottomless, so we have been waiting ever since to get a bit of decent ground.

“Hopefully he will run well. I see the ground has gone soft up there, but hopefully it won’t get too soft for him.”

Dan Skelton is looking to the future with Hoe Joly Smoke, who has finished placed on both starts over hurdles at Chepstow, latterly when third to the unbeaten Doyen Star.

“He ran a nice race at Chepstow,” said Skelton. “He’s in at the deep end, but if he finished nicely in this, he’s had three good runs over hurdles without losing his novice status and he’d be a maiden for next year.

“Then he’ll be one of the higher-rated, more experienced ones of that pack.”

Lookaway has schooled well under Jack Quinlan
Lookaway has schooled well under Jack Quinlan (David Davies/PA)

Lookaway was unbeaten in two bumpers for Neil King, including a Grade Two contest at Aintree in April last year.

He has had two subsequent starts over hurdles and has yet to deliver on last season’s promise, but King retains plenty of confidence in his charge as he returns from a three-month break.

He said: “I’m looking forward to see him running – it has been a long time.

“On his bumper form he’s over-priced, but on what he has achieved over hurdles on his first two starts, he isn’t.

“But we had a rotten middle part of the season. My horses were badly out of form, so we have just given them all the time needed to come right. They now seem back in good order.

“Two-miles-two on what sounds like beautiful jumping ground around Kelso should be ideal for him. We’re looking forward to seeing him getting back to his best.

“Jack (Quinlan) came and schooled him the other day and he jumped electrically, so we are very much looking forward to it.”

Colonel Mustard heads to Kelso to set out Cheltenham case

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Colonel Mustard will aim to snaffle the huge carrot of a £100,000 bonus for any horse who wins the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday and follows up at the Cheltenham Festival.

Third in last year’s County Hurdle, the Lorna Fowler-trained eight-year-old is one of two Irish raiders who line up for the competitive two-mile handicap.

He returns to hurdling, having had two runs over fences, the last of which saw him finish runner-up to Arkle favourite El Fabiolo over two miles at Fairyhouse.

County Meath-based Fowler said: “We were going to go for the Betfair Hurdle. That was very much the big plan, but the ground was no good at Newbury.

“We thought we could go straight for the County Hurdle, but with the bonus on offer, it made sense to have a go. It is a great carrot. It is a very hard carrot to get your hands on, but it has to be worth a go.

“He is very lightly-raced this year, so is a really fresh horse. He has travelled before, so every box was ticked to have a go. The plan is to go to the County afterwards, if all is well.

“The ground is perfect for him, but it will be perfect for everybody else. At the moment, everything is positive.”

Emmet Mullins won this race two years ago with The Shunter, who went on to secure the bonus when taking the Paddy Power Plate at the Festival.

He saddles Mctigue, who has won two of his four starts over hurdles, including a Grade Two contest at Auteuil, since joining the yard from Jim Bolger.

“We are not the only ones after the bonus,” said Mullins. “He is in good form and we’ll get that race out of the way before thinking about the Festival.

“We have different options there. In England, you run off the weight you are allotted, so that is against us for the Festival. That might narrow our options.

“Even if he wins the Morebattle, he won’t carry a penalty in the Boodles, so he can’t go above 11st 12lb, so that’s another angle for him.

“He has a hardiness and experience for a young horse. He was a two-year-old Flat winner and a very precocious horse and has taken to the jumps very well.”

The British challenge is spearheaded by L’Eau Du Sud, who threw down a strong challenge in the latter stages of a two-mile Kempton handicap over Christmas, only to make a blunder at the last and finish third to No Ordinary Joe.

Dan Skelton is not eyeing the Morebattle Hurdle bonus
Dan Skelton is not eyeing the Morebattle Hurdle bonus (Jacob King/PA)

Trainer Dan Skelton is not eyeing the bonus, however.

He said: “He ran nicely. He’s next year’s chaser. It is obviously a highly competitive race, but I’m very happy with him and I’d give him a little chance.

“He’s not in anything at Cheltenham. The Morebattle is the right race for him. He is a young horse. I don’t want go again that quickly. A bonus is only a bonus if you can win it – and I don’t think we can.

“If we can win the Morebattle, I’ll be very happy. I don’t have to follow up at Cheltenham for it to be worthwhile.”

Gary Moore’s Teddy Blue will make an 800-mile round trip from his West Sussex yard in search of a second win over hurdles.

Joshua Moore hopes Teddy Blue will handle the travelling
Joshua Moore hopes Teddy Blue will handle the travelling (Julian Herbert/PA Wire)

Placed on his last two attempts in Grade Three company, including when third to Aucunrisque in the Betfair Hurdle, assistant trainer Joshua Moore is hopeful he will handle the long journey.

He said: “He ran well last time. He seems well at home. It is a long way to travel, but it just depends on how he travels up there.

“He is in the County and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as well. Which one he will run in, I’m not sure.

“It is a big prize and well worth going up there for.”

Last year’s winner Cormier returns for Brian Ellison, having had two unsuccessful chase starts this term.

Ellison said: “We will go back chasing next year. He would have finished closer in the County last year (when seventh), but for being squeezed out coming up the rail.

“He’s in good form, in fine fettle and always runs his race – he’s tough. He was only a cheap horse and he’s done well.

“He won’t be going to the County. We will probably go to the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock.

“He finished second in the Swinton a couple of years ago and got brought down in it last year. He has run well in it and there are other races to run in as well. ”

The Shunter seeking Premier renaissance on Kelso return

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The Shunter takes on four rivals in the bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso on Saturday with trainer Emmet Mullins hoping he can return to something like his best.

Two years ago, the JP McManus-owned gelding took the Morebattle Hurdle on his way to landing a £100,000 bonus for following up with a win in the Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Subsequently runner-up in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree, his form has been patchy since, winning just once in 11 starts.

Mullins feels the 10-year-old, who has been given a break since finishing fourth of 20 in a two-mile Naas Flat handicap in November, is nicely handicapped on his return to the Scottish track.

“These races are all hard to win, but it looks a good spot for him,” said Mullins.

“Fingers crossed he can run his race. Let’s hope he can repeat the magic.”

Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos is favourite to land the Listed contest and complete a hat-trick for the Dan Skelton yard.

He has not run since taking the race formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup and runs off a 6lb higher mark, albeit in a slightly weaker contest.

Le Milos and jockey Harry Skelton (centre) bid to follow up their Coral Gold Cup victory
Le Milos and jockey Harry Skelton (centre) bid to follow up their Coral Gold Cup victory (John Walton/PA)

Skelton said: “We could not have been more delighted with his run at Newbury.

“We understandably gave him a bit of time off to get over that, and this looked an obvious spot for him.

“He is fresh and well and we are hopeful that he will run well.”

Sandy Thomson has the Scottish National in mind for Empire Steel should he bounce back to his best on a track he likes.

The nine-year-old has won two and finished runner-up on his three starts at Kelso, although the Berwickshire handler is happy to draw a line under his two runs this season, as his horses were not firing.

He said: “Obviously the horses didn’t look like they were right just after Christmas, which was frustrating.

“Hopefully, we have got them sorted out and he will bounce back and run his race.

“He likes Kelso, it will suit him. It is a very funny race, because if you look historically, some of the winners have never won another race.

“It is a funny kind of race, because you get some horses who are looking at it as a prep for the National or something and that is more important than winning the Premier Chase.

“But if he bounces back and runs a nice race, we’ll be delighted and the Scottish National would be in the offing if he did.”

Shropshire trainer Mel Rowley feels she has nothing to lose by running Wishing And Hoping following his 50-1 shock win in the Veterans’ Chase Series Final at Sandown.

Wishing And Hoping caused a 50-1 shock at Sandown last time
Wishing And Hoping caused a 50-1 shock at Sandown last time (Steven Paston/PA)

The consistent 13-year-old has won five and finished runner-up on as many occasions in his 18 chase starts, and showed plenty of zest when accounting for Ramses De Teillee last time.

Rowley said: “He is very, very well and we thought ‘why not’, as we are slightly restricted where we can go with him.

“This seemed a good a place as any, as there are only five in it. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“I suppose we might have the advantage, as if our horse never won a race again, because of his age, it wouldn’t matter.

“His last run is what dreams are made of. That’s why we do it, isn’t it?”

Zanza brought up Philip Hobbs’ 3,000th winner when beating Hitman by seven lengths in the Grade Two Denman Chase at Newbury three weeks ago.

Should he not take up his first preference, which is in the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap at Newbury, he will complete the line-up.

Colonel Mustard set to make hurdles switch in Morebattle

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Colonel Mustard switches to hurdles at Kelso on Saturday with Lorna Fowler hoping to secure the first leg of an audacious quick-fire double in the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle.

Third in the County Hurdle behind State Man at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, the eight-year-old was sent novice chasing in the early part of this season and was last seen finishing a well-beaten second to Arkle hope El Fabiolo.

Fences were soon placed on the back-burner with the Betfair Hurdle entering the picture, but when the unseasonably quick ground ruined that idea, a new plan was quickly hatched, which begins at one of Fowler’s old stomping grounds this weekend.

The winner of the Kelso handicap will qualify for a bonus of £100,000 if following up in any race at the Festival and although the County Meath-based handler insists the Morebattle Hurdle is definitely plan A, victory could set up a return to the County Hurdle in just over two weeks.

“We just need to jump through a few more hoops,” said Fowler. “He’s doing his last piece of work today, but I’m very happy with him and as long as we get through today, then we’ll be all set to go for the Morebattle.

“The plan had been to go for the Betfair Hurdle, the ground scuppered that one and then we kind of had our eye on the County, but this was kind of staring us in the face a little bit.

“Obviously it is a massive ask to travel twice, but the bonus is a very tasty carrot to have a go at. It’s my old stomping ground and I’m happy with any excuse to go back to Kelso. The ground looks like it will be in good nick and we’re all set.

“The target is very much the Morebattle – it’s a very valuable race and it fully merits being our target – but the double is in mind given the bonus that is on offer. It’s plenty of travelling but hopefully it is well worth a go.”

No stone has been left unturned by Fowler in her bid to pull off the feat achieved by Emmet Mullins with The Shunter in 2021, and Colonel Mustard has been given plenty of practice over the smaller obstacles since his short spell over fences.

Fowler added: “He’s been back over hurdles and schooled over the white ones a couple of times as well, so we have made sure he knows what they are like. It does make a difference to them, they definitely see them.

“We also gave him a schooling race at Fairyhouse when we didn’t go for the Betfair and the timing tied in quite well – it came at a good time anyway.”

Russian handed Kelso option as Jefferson bides her time

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Ruth Jefferson is leaving all avenues open for Sounds Russian after opting to enter him for the bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso on Saturday.

The eight-year-old’s star has been rising all season, winning the Edinburgh Gin Chase on his return before placing fourth in the Many Clouds – a Grade Two over three miles and a furlong at Aintree.

He then was the runner-up in two successive chases, finishing second in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby and then being defeated by only Ahoy Senor in the Cotswold Chase in late January.

The latter run brought the Cheltenham Gold Cup into focus come March, with the bay not ruled out of that contest despite his entry for Kelso at the weekend.

“It was always the plan to give him an entry at Kelso and then decide where we go,” Jefferson said.

“It might be a completely pointless entry or he could rock up on Saturday, we just wanted to give him the entry and give us the time to think about it.

“It’s not an indication that he isn’t going to Cheltenham, we just wanted to keep our options open because it’s a pretty tough race, the Gold Cup!”

Jamie Snowden’s classy chaser Ga Law also holds an entry alongside Dan Skelton’s Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos and Donald McCain’s Minella Drama.

Ga Law is entered at Kelso
Ga Law is entered at Kelso (David Davies/PA)

Harriet Graham and Gary Rutherford’s Aye Right, the Sandy Thompson-trained Empire Steel and Oliver Signy’s French Paradoxe all feature along with Emmet Mullins’ The Shunter, who won the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle on this card in 2021.

Mel Rowley’s Wishing And Hoping and Philip Hobbs’ Zanza complete the field.

The Morebattle has 26 contenders at this stage, including McTigue for Mullins and top weight Colonel Mustard, who is trained by Lorna Fowler.