Kelso Update

Second Inspection 10.30

News From Keith Reveleys Yard

Keith Reveley is hoping conditions at Ascot do not become too testing ahead of Tazbar's assignment in the Sodexo Prestige Reynoldstown Novices' Chase on Saturday.

The eight-year-old has won three of his four starts over fences, his only defeat coming at the hands of Long Run in the Feltham Novices' Chase.

He was a hugely impressive winner at Doncaster at the start of the month and could be set for a mouthwatering clash with Punchestowns at the weekend.

"He's in very good form and came out of his last race well, but he wouldn't go if the ground was soft or heavy," said Reveley.

"We'll have to see what Punchestowns is going to do, we might have to think a bit more about it then, but I wouldn't mind taking him on on good ground. It's his (Tazbar's) Gold Cup."

Kelso On/Off?

Thursday's meeting at Kelso will have to survive a 7am inspection if it is to go ahead.

Champion Hurdle favourite Zaynar is due to make the long trip north to the Borders track for the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle.

However, the track is reported to be partly frozen after temperatures dipped well below freezing on Tuesday night and another cold night is expected, prompting the early morning check.

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Carlito Brigante completes his hat-trick in style at Musselburgh

Carlito Brigante is just 7-1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after completing his hat-trick in style at Musselburgh.

Sent off the evens favourite for the John Smith's Scottish Triumph Hurdle under Jason Maguire, victory was never really in doubt as he travelled well throughout.

Ultimate set a brisk gallop in the £30,000 contest, but Maguire always looked confident on Gordon Elliott's juvenile and the pair powered clear for a six-length success.

Elliott said: "He is a big, laid-back horse and the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham is the plan now. That course will suit him much better as Musselburgh is a bit tight for him.

"I wanted to go for the Grade One race at Leopardstown (won by Pittoni) with him, but we came here for the better ground. He is a very good horse."

Elliott's John Smith's Grand National hope Backstage finished third on his return to action following a 163-day absence in the Scottish Racing Novices' Hurdle and the trainer could hardly have been more delighted.

He added: "He was only three-quarters fit, so he will come on a lot for that, and I will give him one run over fences before Aintree."

Maguire completed a double when the Donald McCain-trained Fiendish Flame (5-2 joint-favourite) made all in the John Smith's No Nonsense Novices' Chase.

"I was delighted with him," said the jockey. "He disappointed at Kempton, but the ground was probably too soft. The better ground suited him here, he jumped better out of it. I don't know what Donald is going to do now, but he is in the Jewson at Cheltenham."

Nicky Henderson's decision to send a raiding party on the 740-mile round trip from Lambourn was rewarded with a double thanks to Candy Creek and Eradicate, both ridden by Barry Geraghty.

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Barry gave Kalahari King on Saturday at 11/1 on his line, each way, winning in great style. On Sunday late information gave Joncol to win the Irish Hennessy.


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Backstage returns At Muss`...More from Gordon Elliott

Backstage begins his public preparation for a crack at the John Smith's Grand National with an outing over hurdles at Musselburgh on Sunday.

It will be his first race since August and trainer Gordon Elliott warns that the eight-year-old will need the exercise in the Scottish Racing Novices' Hurdle.

The County Meath handler said: "He's in good form, it's his first run of the season and it's a stepping-stone towards the Grand National."

Elliott went on: "It's over hurdles, he'll come on a ton for it. If he runs a respectable race and is placed, we'll be delighted. He'll then have a run over fences in Ireland in four or five weeks' time, then on to the National."

Backstage, who got round at his first try at the National fences when eighth in the Fox Hunters' Chase last spring, is a best-priced 25-1 for the Aintree marathon on April 10.

Musselburgh Sunday...see you there?

Carlito Brigante bids to further enhance his claims for the JCB Triumph Hurdle when he lines up at Musselburgh on Sunday.

Trainer Gordon Elliott has opted to run him at the Scottish venue instead of on home soil in the Grade One Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown in anticipation of suitable conditions.

Already a leading contender at a top-priced 12-1 for the juvenile championship at the Cheltenham Festival, Carlito Brigante will attempt to follow up a course and distance success in November in the John Smith's Scottish Triumph Hurdle, for which he is one of seven declared.

He has since shown his class with victory over the highly-rated Alaivan at Leopardstown on Boxing Day and Elliott said: "He travelled over on Friday and we're going over in search of better ground.

"We had him in the Grade One at Leopardstown which he would have been favourite for, but the ground's gone heavy. They've had lots of rain.

"He's in good form, he's well, so we're hoping for a big run.

"He's won over the course and distance but he's improved an awful lot since then.

"This will race will give him more experience and help get him ready for Cheltenham."

More News

Ferdy Murphy is hoping Bedlam Boy can book his place in the Arkle Trophy line-up with a prominent showing in the Bet With Blue Square Mobile Novices' Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.

The nine-year-old has barely come off the bridle in winning his two starts over fences to date and Murphy feels his charge compares favourably with last season's Arkle runner-up Kalahari King.

"He'll run and we were very pleased with his work on Tuesday morning. Graham (Lee) thinks the trip, two miles and three furlongs, will be OK," the trainer told At The Races.

"We'll look at the Arkle as he's won his two races very easily, and we've got to get this race in. We could always look at one of the handicaps at Cheltenham and I think he will get further than two miles.

"He could go for the Grand Annual instead, but he's really pleasing us at home. You couldn't have picked a hotter race for the Arkle, but at the same time, he travels and he jumps.

"We've run a good few horses in the Arkle and he'd be near enough as good as anything we've run in it, and that's including Kalahari King."

News Fro Ferdys Yard

Kalahari King is ready to take his chance in the Blue Square Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday after pleasing connections in a workout on Tuesday morning.

Last season's Arkle Trophy runner-up has yet to see a racecourse this season having been held up by a minor setback and the weather, but trainer Ferdy Murphy is ready to let him return.

The Yorkshire handler had also been considering the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury the following weekend, but is keen to run his charge now with the weather seemingly on his side.

"Graham (Lee) schooled him over 10 fences and then we worked him twice up the all-weather and he worked really well," said Murphy.

"He will come on for the run, but we are fairly certain racing will be on this weekend and you wouldn't be so sure for next week.

"We're going to grasp the nettle and get on with it, but it's a very competitive handicap, as you would expect for £70,000.

"It's a matter of getting a run into him and then that gives us five and a half weeks to the Festival, which would be just right for him."

While Kalahari King will shoulder top-weight in this weekend's contest, his stable companion Beggars Cap is likely to creep in near the bottom of the handicap.

"He will also run, and Keith Mercer will ride him," Murphy told At The Races. "He won well at Aintree last year and has a nice weight. Like Kalahari, he wouldn't really want any rain during the week, but he's really ready for a run and then he'll go to Cheltenham for the Grand Annual."

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup At Leopardstown On Sunday...Richards Bemused

Nicky Richards is slightly bemused as to why Money Trix is not favourite with the bookmakers for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The 10-year-old has always been held in high regard by the Greystoke handler and justified his trainer's faith with a terrific second-place finish in the Lexus Chase over course and distance last time.

Cooldine and Joncol were both behind Money Trix that day, but are shorter in the betting for this weekend's clash.

Richards said: "He's ready to go. I'm very happy with him at the moment and we'll take any more rain that comes. He likes it heavy, but he'll handle it fine if it's just genuine soft ground.

"He's not favourite, but that doesn't bother me. I suppose they just think I'm a small-time trainer from the north of England. If he was trained by Paul Nicholls he'd certainly be favourite, but we know what we're doing.

"Davy (Russell) rides him again and he knows the horse now, so that should be more in our favour."

There are eight entries for the Grade One contest, with Cooldine currently the well-supported favourite, despite being pulled up in the Lexus on what was his first start of the season.

His trainer Willie Mullins said: "He was just a bit under the weather after the last day. We treated him at home and he is much better now, he has worked and schooled well. I'm very happy with him."

Mullins has also left in Lexus seventh J'y Vole, while Joncol (third), Notre Pere (fourth), Schindlers Hunt (fifth) and In Compliance (pulled up) all featured in the same race. The only entry not to have taken part in the Lexus is the Tom Mullins-trained Made In Taipan.

Dunguib could face up to eight rivals as he bids to maintain his unbeaten record in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle on the same card, while the likes of Roberto Goldback, Cousin Vinny, Nicanor, Zaarito and Weapon's Amnesty have been entered in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase.