The £100,000 bonus on offer if the winner of Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso can follow up in any race at the Cheltenham festival has turned what is already the richest handicap hurdle in Scotland into one of the most interesting and competitive events in the immediate run-up to National Hunt’s showpiece meeting, and several of the sharpest trainers in the business have runners towards the head of the market for Saturday’s renewal.
Foremost among those is Emmet Mullins, who announced himself as one of the shrewdest handlers around – and well in advance of his Grand National success with Noble Yeats in 2022 – when The Shunter took the Morebattle in 2021 and then followed up in the Plate, one of the festival’s most competitive handicap chases, less than a fortnight later.
Related: Flat revamp confirms Champions Day in tough slot for racing’s showcase
Mullins relies this year on the mare Vischio, who joined the yard after winning a competitive race at Punchestown in November and followed up on her first start for her new trainer in a stronger race at the Dublin Racing Festival.
She showed an abrupt turn of foot to go five lengths clear at Leopardstown and given her trainer’s well-earned reputation for priming a handicapper, it is no surprise to see her installed as the favourite in the early betting, not least as Mullins has gone to the trouble of entering her in three handicap hurdles at the festival.
Her last two runs were off 111 and 119, however, and Vischio is a stone higher in the ratings on Saturday. She might yet prove to be thrown in even off 133, but this is an intensely competitive heat and there is little value in a price of around 5-1.
Tellherthename and Alnilam have similar profiles at better odds but both are potential front-runners Chae Favour And Fortune (3.30), who is entered in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, could be the one to benefit if the leaders go off too fast.
He ran an eye-catching race to finish fourth in Newbury’s ultra-competitive William Hill Hurdle last time, will race off the same mark on Saturday and had enough class to finish sixth in last year’s Supreme Novice Hurdle.
Kelso 1.10 A wind op since his chase debut could make the difference for Kidman, who travelled like the best horse last time but faded in the closing stages.
Newbury 1.20 Quick Wave has gone well fresh in the past and is an interesting debutant in veterans’ events returning from another extended break.
Kelso 1.45 Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning is the percentage call over Iroko, a leading Grand National contender, to bounce back from a disappointing showing in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Doncaster 2.05 Grade One company was a step too far for World Of Fortunes at Leopardstown last time but she will be tough to beat dropping back to Listed level.
Kelso 2.20 Young Jack goes well at this track, William Maggs is well worth his 5lb claim and early offers of around 20-1 are worth an each-way interest.
Kelso: 1.10 Kidman 1.45 Grey Dawning 2.20 Young Jack 2.55 Laganhill 3.30 Favour And Fortune (nap) 4.04 Maple 4.39 Leader In The Park.
Newbury: 1.20 Quick Wave 1.55 Epinephrine 2.30 Jasmin De Grugy 3.05 Kel Raffles 3.45 Prince Quali 4.15 Ninth Loch 4.50 There Runs Mary.
Doncaster: 1.30 Doctor Kildare 2.05 World Of Fortunes 2.40 Tommy’s Oscar 3.15 Twig (nb) 3.55 Patriotik 4.31 Muzaafar 5.07 Norn Iron.
Newcastle: 4.10 Carrados 4.45 Sharon Curly 5.15 Mighty Nebula 5.45 Three Beauz 6.15 Pop Favorite 6.45 Tomorrow Day 7.15 Hartswood.
Southwell: 4.25 Moulin Booj 5.00 Fast Fred 5.30 Sid’s Annie 6.00 Man Of La Mancha 6.30 Match Anthem 7.00 Mickey Mongoose 7.30 Dash Power 8.00 Horus 8.30 Ustath.
Doncaster 2.40 It has been stop-start for Tommy’s Oscar since has last win in April 2024, but even under top weight he could still have enough ability to be competitive over a track and trip where he was a convincing winner off just a 3lb lower mark earlier the same season.
Kelso 2.55 Half the field are unbeaten over hurdles and Laganhill, a seven-year-old who did not see a track until December 2024, could continue to make up for lost time.
Doncaster 3.15 Twig, runner-up in the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham last year, reverts to chasing for the first time this season with Beau Morgan taking off a useful 5lb.
Newbury 3.45 A chance for Prince Quali, who looks overpriced at around 16-1, to bounce back after an uncharacteristic fall last time out.
