12:30 Kelso

Leg 1 Selections: Clovis Boy, Beat The Retreat 

This isn’t a strong race and therefore CLOVIS BOY could be up to making a winning start under rules for connections. He is related to plenty of winners in France and could be capable of having a significant say in the outcome of this. BEAT THE RETREAT was beaten a fair way on hurdles debut but should do better this time around and could be the one to side with of those with experience in leg 1. 

13:00 Kelso

Leg 2 Selections: Atlantic Dancer, Getaway Gerry

ATLANTIC DANCER made the most of the drop in weights when returning an easy winner at Ayr in March and ran well when 2nd on her return back at that course last time. She remains on the same mark here, so she is still well-treated and could go one better with that run under her belt. At a big price, don’t rule out GETAWAY GERRY, who drops into this grade for the first time in this sphere and shaped well in a better race than this last time here. The 9-year-old could be about to run a big race in this weak contest. 

13:30 Kelso

Leg 3 Selections: Touch Kick, Caboy

TOUCH KICK remains 20Ib below his last winning mark and produced his best effort this yard when 2nd of 7 in a handicap chase at Musselburgh when last spotted. He must have a good chance from the same mark here in leg 2, while CABOY has ran respectably in both his starts this term and has a lot of form on heavy ground, so he could be about to capitalise on his reduced mark against a field where a lot of them are struggling to win of late. 

14:00 Kelso

Leg 4 Selections: Traprain Law 

TRAPRAIN LAW has to be the solid option here for leg 3. He won very well over C&D on his penultimate start and was solid in defeat when 2nd here last time. With a 1st and two 2nd’s from 3 starts at this course, he clearly likes it here and is open to a lot more improvement as well. It is hard to see him out of the frame in leg four, especially with his stable amongst the winners of late. Big chance. 

14:30 Kelso

Leg 5 Selections: Beat Box

This is competitive but a chance is taken on the James Ewart-trained BEAT BOX returned a good winner at Ayr last time, where he travelled well and quickened up well to win by 6 lengths as he benefited from a breathing operation. This is clearly a much stiffer task off a 7Ib higher mark but he is heading in the right direction and should be thereabouts off bottom-weight in leg 5 with Brian Hughes in the saddle. 

15:00 Kelso

Leg 6 Selections: Elvis Mail, First Account 

ELVIS MAIL ran well to finish midfield in a stronger race than this at Aintree last time despite plenty of mistakes and will find the combination of today’s drop in grade and softer ground much more to his liking. He has an excellent record at Kelso, which reads 13112224, and the 9-year-old could therefore land this off top-weight. FIRST ACCOUNT has made the frame in his last two starts, which have come in this sphere, and could go well on his return with the ground in his favour.