The bet365 Morebattle Hurdle is the feature race at Kelso on Saturday and it has attracted a stellar field of hurdlers. We’ve produced a runner-by-runner preview of the contest, which comes alongside an exclusive Paddy Power offer, that provides £60 IN FREE BETS when you bet £10 on race 1 at Doncaster on Saturday.
BET £10 ON RACE 1 AT DONCASTER SATURDAY, GET £60 IN FREE BETS
BET365 MOREBATTLE HURDLE (2m, Class 2, Kelso, Saturday 5th March)
1. BUVEUR D’AIR (Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville) 9/2
Dual Champion Hurdler and overall eight-time Grade 1 winner. Powers clearly on the wane in recent years, with his losing run currently stretching back to May 2019, but he was only beaten 4 1/2l into fourth at Aintree when last seen and that came at Grade 1 level. Drops into handicap level for the first time on reappearance, and he’s been given a chance by the handicapper off a mark of 153. Would mop these up at his peak but he is entitled to come on for this first start in almost a year.
2. AUTUMN EVENING (Jessica Harrington, Sean O’Keeffe) 11/2
Irish raider who has provided his powerful yard with some respite with two victories in what has otherwise been a fairly bleak season up to now. Put up a clear career-best showing when third in last month’s Liffey Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, and top jockey Sean O’Keeffe takes the ride. Up 9lb on British debut but open to improvement and cannot be ruled out.
3. METIER (Harry Fry, Sean Bowen) 10/3
Grade 1 winning novice hurdler albeit that came in a seemingly weak edition of the Tolworth and he had his limitations exposed in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle subsequently. Came good at the third attempt this season when landing the valuable Sovereign Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield last time out, and that form looks solid. Up 7lb which isn’t insurmountable but there is a feeling that he’s only ever at his best when the ground’s hock deep.
4. FAIVOIR (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton) 8/1
Hurdles form figures read an impressive 214113113, reverting to the smaller obstacles last month after a spell chasing – finishing a well-held third in the Kingwell Hurdle. That looked a bridge too far but interesting that the first-time cheekpieces applied are quickly removed. Harry Skelton is back aboard here, and Faivoir runs off the same mark of 143 that he carried when third to The Shunter in this race 12 months ago.
5. SAINT D’OROUX (Stuart Crawford, Ben Bromley) 11/1
2020 Fred Winter third and ran well in defeat in a couple of competitive handicaps last season before struggling at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals. Joined current yard over the summer and made an immediate impact when running out a 14/1 winner on stable debut over 2m5f here last month. The 3l rise received for that is offset by his rider’s claim and this could have been the target since, but vulnerable to a speedier rival back at this distance.
6. VOIX DU REVE (Iain Jardine, Alan Doyle) 25/1
Former Grade 1 winning chaser for Willie Mullins and has mixed it up to success over both hurdles and fences since joining current connections back in 2020. Beaten just 2 1/2l by Saint D’oroux here last month and dropping back to this trip won’t inconvenience, but that brought his losing run to 17 and it’s a big ask for him to break that in this company.
7. CORMIER (Brian Ellison, Sean Quinlan) 15/2
Progressive hurdler last season, returning from a 140-day break to finish second in the competitive Swinton Handicap Hurdle. Gained a couple of Flat wins subsequently and added to his hurdles tally at Cheltenham in January, holding off the challenge of Severance. Up just 4lb for that victory and he remains open to improvement in this sphere, so a big showing looks firmly in the offing.
8. BALKO SAINT (Jane Williams, Chester Williams) 14/1
Hurdles winner in France last spring, improving on a mid-field showing in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. In and out profile since, landing a four-runner Listed event at Kempton in October but struggling back in France either side of that. Returns from a break but he’s only 1lb below that Fred Winter mark and therefore looks opposable from a handicapping perspective.
9. NON-RUNNER
10. SOME REIGN (Rose Dobbin, Craig Nichol) 33/1
Back in the winner’s enclosure at Musselburgh last time, landing a six-runner handicap chase. Form figures here at Kelso read an impressive 2213223, but he’s back hurdling here for the first time in over 4 years and although a mark of 132 looks workable others in this field bring a far greater scope for improvement.
11. SEVERANCE (Ben Pauling, Brian Hughes) 9/1
90-rated flat performer who looked a potentially useful prospect in this sphere when bolting up by 8l on hurdles debut at Carlisle in November 2020. Hasn’t really gone on from that since, however, looking a horse with plenty going on between the ears at times (holds high head carriage). Removal of the hood (had worn on all 16 previous career starts) did bring about some improvement when chasing home Cormier at Cheltenham last time, but he likely only holds place claims at best.
12. THEREISNODOUBT (Lucinda Russell, Derek Fox) 33/1
Gained three hurdles wins for Shane Crawley and has finished a close second (RPR of 126) on both starts since joining current connections. Those efforts came at Class 3 level, however, and he is 3lb out of the handicap here on this big jump in grade, which makes him tough to recommend.
BIG RACE VERDICT
Buveur D’Air is a fascinating runner here but the dual Champion Hurdler is entitled to come on for this first start in almost a year. CORMIER gained a couple of wins on the level last summer and has done well since returning to hurdles, finishing fourth in a strong renewal of the Welsh Champion Hurdle before deservedly getting his head in front at Cheltenham last time. The 4lb rise received for that looks more than manageable, and therefore he can be backed to follow up on Saturday afternoon. The admirable Faivoir looks interesting for the Skelton’s having finished third in this race 12 months ago, but he may have to settle for minor money once again.
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