Eight declared runners at Kelso tomorrow after a no show at Hexham

Warm and sunny this morning, tee shirt weather in November, whatever next.  No runners at Hexham today as a result of Eagles Cairn slipping over on his way to the lorry – not good for the Trainer’s blood pressure! Hopefully he will be fine in a few days, that’s the main thing, frustrating.  We will be hoping for better luck tomorrow at Kelso where we have eight declared runners for their morning fixture, ground should be lovely softer side of good to soft.

First up will be Scarlet Jet in the 10.45 (yes, correct) with Bruce on board.  He won very well at Perth in April and consequently has to carry a 7lb penalty against his seven rivals, several of which look quite smart.  He seems in good order so it will be interesting to see if he is good enough.

Better be Definite makes his seasonal debut in the 11.42; he missed last season having picked up a minor injury at Hexham in June 2024, we have given him plenty of time and I suspect he will improve plenty for the run after so long off, he won twice over 3 miles in the spring of 2024 and he may need that trip to get his head in front again but this looks an ideal starting point – 9 run and Bruce rides.

Maillot Blanc runs in the 4th race at 12.10; he ran a bit flat at Perth in September and I’m not overly confident he will improve tomorrow but he seems fine, it is the course and distance of his best form and Dom takes a valuable 10lb off in what looks an ordinary race.  We’ve also popped a tongue tie back on and some cheek pieces – 9 run.

We are double handed in the 12.42 with Gaillimh a Stor (Bruce) and Artic Mann (Dom), both may find this trip on the sharp side in what looks like the most competitive race of the day.  Gaillimh went up 8lb for three good runs in defeat last winter and has come down a mere 3lb for three poor subsequent runs meaning he is still 5lb higher than when beaten into 3rd at this track last December, he needs a chance from the handicapper.  Artic Mann is a grand old warrior but a victim of his own consistency in that he also appears handicapped not to win.  Hopefully they will both run well – 14 run.

Ned Tanner runs in the feature race of the day, the Wishing Well Handicap Chase at 1.17.  He seems in good order, has a handy weight and is a course and distance winner.  He ought to run well though my main caveat would be that he has tended to need his first run.  Hopefully he will give a good show and this will set him up for another good season – Sean rides and 8 run.

We are also double handed in the last race at 1.52 with Jirko (Bruce) and Boolamore Classic (Danny).  Chasing was always going to be Jirko’s job and he makes his debut over the larger obstacles tomorrow, he has strengthened up nicely over the summer and seems in very good order, he schools well, ideally we’d be starting over 2m 4f but this race ticks every other box and he ought to stay, there was a reason why he didn’t last time.

Boolamore ran in one chase last season prior to winning over hurdles, he is an enigmatic character and very hard to read on his work at home – he could run a big race if he gets out of bed on the right side! 9 run.

Luckily there isn’t a frost forecast for tomorrow as morning jumps racing in winter has to be the most bonkers of all the initiatives the BHA have managed to come up with; it suggests their personnel have minimal knowledge of how training yards actually function (or the weather!).  We will have six staff at Kelso with our eight runners along with both of our jockeys, how are we meant to exercise the 44 horses left at home on what ought to be an important work day?  We will thanks to the resilience and flexibility of our team but it is far from ideal.

As usual Owners aren’t taken into consideration; ours from further away cannot physically get there in time and those in Scotland will have an early start to be there for lunch at, err, 10.15.  But it is Kelso that suffers the most; their crowd will be down, they appear to have none of their usual type of sponsors, their corporate market will be next to zero and above all I’d guess their betting turnover will be down.  Nobody wins,  yet it is justified by the BHA on the basis of “protecting” the Premier Racing window and allowing punters to focus on those fixtures at Wincanton and Doncaster (yes the flat season grinds on).  Not Aintree (which has the best card of the day) which at least is allowed to race at a normal time and this “window” is then cluttered up with a 9 race card from Wolverhampton on the all weather not to forget Gowran Park in Ireland.  Nuts, and you will be pleased that this will be my final rant on the subject as the BHA have realised it is a terrible idea and scrapped it… but not until 2026 – why change it now when you can wait?