Our Kelso racing tips cover all 6 races on the card today, Wednesday 16th September 2026. The action gets underway at 16:25 and runs through to 18:55, with going reported as GOOD TO FIRM, Good in places (GoingStick 6.7) (Watering).
A few names jump off the page from a course-form perspective. Bold Light boasts a 66.67% strike rate from 3 runs at the track, Sean Bowen has been in fine form here with 15 wins from 63 rides, Mickey Bowen’s yard sends out runners with a 28.57% strike rate at this venue. Below you’ll find race-by-race breakdowns with our top selections, live odds and tipster picks.
Tipster Performance at Kelso
Here’s how the leading tipsters have fared at Kelso over the last two years (minimum 10 selections):
| Tipster | Source | Selections | Wins | Win % | Place % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RP Ratings | Racing Post | 10 | 4 | 40% | 70% |
| Glendale | The Scotsman | 19 | 6 | 31.58% | 52.63% |
| The Score | Racing TV | 11 | 3 | 27.27% | 72.73% |
| Garry Owen | Daily Record | 18 | 4 | 22.22% | 61.11% |
| The North | Racing Post | 14 | 3 | 21.43% | 78.57% |
16:25 – RacingTV Proudly Supports Teenage Cancer Trust Handicap Hurdle
Race Details: 2m 2f | Class 5 | Going: GOOD TO FIRM, Good in places (GoingStick 6.7) (Watering) | | jumps
This looks a modest but quite competitive little handicap to open the card, with Cawthorne Cracker and Fine Point the obvious starting points in the market. Cawthorne Cracker arrives off a solid second and has the look of one who should be well suited by this sort of sharpish intermediate trip, while Fine Point still has upside as a 5yo despite not being entirely straightforward. Scots Poet has been knocking around in similar races and brings solid enough figures, but top weight on this ground asks a question of a 10-year-old. Hijo De La Luna is the interesting lurker if building on his latest return effort. It is not a deep race, but it is the sort where fitness, clean jumping and tactical position could matter more than raw ability.
Top Selections
1. Cawthorne Cracker – 5/2 with Betfair
Jockey: Toby Wynne | Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero | Form: -53562 | Rating: 105 | Topspeed: 94
He makes plenty of appeal in a race where a few of these come with caveats. His recent second suggests he is right on the edge of cashing in off this mark, and a rating of 105 does not look beyond him in this grade. The Topspeed figure of 94 is one of the better numbers on offer here too, which matters in a race that may turn into a test of who can travel smoothly and pick up on quick ground. Toby Wynne is a solid booking and this stable is more than capable of placing one well. At 5/2, he is not a giveaway, but he is still the most convincing winner in the line-up. Bet type: WIN.
Bet: WIN
2. Hijo De La Luna – 7/1 with Bet365
Jockey: Bruce Lynn | Trainer: Simon West | Form: /3P5-4 | Rating: 103 | Topspeed: 94
He is the value angle in the race. That latest fourth after a break was a fair reintroduction, and there is enough in his profile to think he can step forward from it now. He is on a workable mark of 103, his Topspeed figure stacks up well against the principals, and unlike some of these, he is not obviously exposed in this sort of contest. Bruce Lynn taking over is no negative around a track like Kelso where rhythm matters. Available at 7/1 with Bet365, he looks a sensible each-way punt in an eight-runner field, especially if the race becomes a little scrappy from the second-last. Bet type: EACH-WAY.
Bet: EACH-WAY
Betting Strategy
Cawthorne Cracker is the win bet because he brings the clearest recent form and looks the most reliable option in a race full of small doubts. Hijo De La Luna is the each-way play at the bigger price, with scope to improve for his comeback. Fine Point is the obvious danger if bouncing back cleanly, while Scots Poet has place claims but may find top weight enough on this surface.
Live Odds Comparison
| Horse | Bet365 | Betfair | Paddy Power | Sky Bet | William Hill | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scots Poet | 9/2 | 9/2 | 9/2 | 9/2 | 9/2 | 9/2 (Bet365) |
| Fine Point | 3/1 | 11/4 | 11/4 | 11/4 | 3/1 | 3/1 (Bet365) |
| Struth | 9/2 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 4/1 | 9/2 (Bet365) |
| Hijo De La Luna | 7/1 | 9/2 | 6/1 | 9/2 | 13/2 | 7/1 (Bet365) |
| Wispit Twob | 18/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 | 18/1 (Bet365) |
| On The Bubble | 18/1 | 14/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 | 18/1 (Bet365) |
| Cawthorne Cracker | 2/1 | 5/2 | 9/4 | 5/2 | 9/4 | 5/2 (Betfair) |
| Ivynator | 66/1 | 50/1 | 50/1 | 50/1 | 50/1 | 66/1 (Bet365) |
16:55 – Borders Carers Centre Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)
Race Details: 2m 4f | Class 4 | Going: GOOD TO FIRM, Good in places (GoingStick 6.7) (Watering) | | jumps
This may only be a three-runner novice, but it is not entirely devoid of interest. Hoe Joly Smoke sets the standard on official figures after getting off the mark last time and, in a race lacking depth, that makes him the obvious one. Handmedownastar is the danger if building on his win two starts ago, though he did take a backward step when only fifth on his latest outing and now has to prove that was just a blip. Hopeless Dancer has been admirably consistent without looking ahead of the assessor and could again find one or two too strong. In truth, this looks a fairly ordinary Class 4 novice rather than a deep contest, and the market leader makes plenty of appeal.
Top Selections
1. Hoe Joly Smoke – 4/6 with Betfair
Jockey: Harry Skelton | Trainer: Dan Skelton | Form: 566-21 | Rating: 130 | Topspeed: 83
Dan Skelton’s runner has the strongest recent profile in the field and, crucially, arrives here after finally getting his head in front. That latest win came after a solid second, so there is a clear sense that things have clicked for him now, and a mark of 130 gives him a useful edge over these rivals. Harry Skelton is exactly the man you want in a tactical small-field hurdle, and this trip on decent ground should hold no fears. At 4/6 he is no great secret, but in a race where the opposition have questions to answer, he is hard to oppose. Bet: WIN
Betting Strategy
Keep it simple in this three-runner affair: Hoe Joly Smoke is the win bet and the one with the least guesswork attached. There is no each-way angle in a field this small. Handmedownastar is the obvious danger if rebounding from his last run, while Hopeless Dancer looks more likely to pick up the pieces than actually win.
Live Odds Comparison
| Horse | Bet365 | Betfair | Paddy Power | Sky Bet | William Hill | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handmedownastar | 5/2 | 13/8 | 15/8 | 7/4 | 9/4 | 5/2 (Bet365) |
| Hoe Joly Smoke | 8/15 | 4/6 | 4/7 | 4/6 | 1/2 | 4/6 (Betfair) |
| Hopeless Dancer | 7/1 | 6/1 | 6/1 | 11/2 | 13/2 | 7/1 (Bet365) |
Tipster Selections
| Tipster | Selection |
|---|---|
| BGTips.co.uk | Hoe Joly Smoke |
| Luke Tucker | Hoe Joly Smoke |
17:25 – Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow Handicap Hurdle
Race Details: 2m 4f | Class 3 | Going: GOOD TO FIRM, Good in places (GoingStick 6.7) (Watering) | | jumps
This looks a compact but interesting little handicap rather than a deep one, and the market has probably got the main shape right. Loriko arrives on a sharp upward curve for Dan Skelton after winning three of his last four and, in a six-runner field lacking much unexposed depth, he is the obvious one they all have to beat. Continuance has bits of placed form that give him a squeak if bouncing back from a poor latest run, while Starlyte is the solid alternative from the foot of the weights and should be well suited by this trip. Bold Light and Heart Above have become a bit hard to catch, and Dream’s Ka has ability but no obvious margin for error in this grade. It’s not a brutal puzzle, but there is still a sensible each-way angle against the favourite.
Top Selections
1. Loriko – 10/11 with Bet365
Jockey: Harry Skelton | Trainer: Dan Skelton | Form: -11211 | Rating: 128 | Topspeed: 117
Loriko is hard to oppose. He comes here in the best nick of anyone in the line-up, with that -11211 sequence showing a horse who has really found his groove, and a Topspeed of 117 says the bare form is backed up by the clock. Dan Skelton’s runners in these northern raids always command respect and Harry Skelton is the ideal man to keep things uncomplicated in a small field. He has to shoulder top weight, but this doesn’t look a race stacked with improvers and he sets the standard on current evidence. At 10/11, he is short enough, but still the likeliest winner by some way. Bet: WIN
Bet: WIN
2. Starlyte – 5/1 with Bet365
Jockey: Patrick Wadge | Trainer: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore | Form: 744-34 | Rating: 130 | Topspeed: 113
Starlyte makes plenty of each-way appeal in a race where several rivals arrive with questions to answer. His last two efforts, finishing third and fourth, suggest he is holding his form well enough, and he gets in here with just 142lb, which could be handy on this quicker ground over 2m4f. The nine-year-old is not especially progressive, but he is dependable enough in the context of this contest and his Topspeed figure of 113 stacks up well behind the favourite. At 5/1 with only six runners, he looks the value play for those wanting to take Loriko on for a place at the very least. Bet: EACH-WAY
Bet: EACH-WAY
Betting Strategy
Loriko is the straight win play and the one with the fewest holes in his profile. For an each-way punt, Starlyte looks the sensible alternative given his weight and relative consistency. Continuance is the danger if forgiving that latest flop, but this should revolve around whether Loriko is simply better than these again.
Live Odds Comparison
| Horse | Bet365 | Betfair | Paddy Power | Sky Bet | William Hill | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loriko | 10/11 | 10/11 | 10/11 | 10/11 | 10/11 | 10/11 (Bet365) |
| Continuance | 13/2 | 13/2 | 13/2 | 13/2 | 13/2 | 13/2 (Bet365) |
| Bold Light | 11/2 | 11/2 | 11/2 | 11/2 | 11/2 | 11/2 (Bet365) |
| Heart Above | 10/1 | 10/1 | 17/2 | 10/1 | 9/1 | 10/1 (Bet365) |
| Starlyte | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 9/2 | 5/1 (Bet365) |
Tipster Selections
| Tipster | Selection |
|---|---|
| Stephen Darbyshire | Heart Above |
17:55 – Weatherbys Racing Bank Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (Go North Monet’s Garden Qual) (GBB Race)
Race Details: 2m 5f | Class 4 | Going: GOOD TO FIRM, Good in places (GoingStick 6.7) (Watering) | | jumps
This may only be a four-runner handicap, but it is not lacking in intrigue. Fairlawn Skipper and Limerick Leader arrive with the most persuasive recent form and the market has latched onto that pair, while Moonlightinthepark is the lightly weighted wildcard with the best official mark in the field. Rockstown Girl has enough ability to get involved if bouncing back, but her recent profile is much less convincing. In a race of this shape, tactical speed and clean jumping should matter plenty, especially on this sound surface around Kelso. It does not look a deep race for the grade, but it is still a proper little puzzle because the obvious pair are both short enough and Moonlightinthepark has the sort of profile that could make life awkward for them.
Top Selections
1. Limerick Leader – 7/4 with Betfair
Jockey: Freddie Keighley | Trainer: Nick Scholfield | Form: 233411 | Rating: 110 | Topspeed: 95
Limerick Leader is the one I want on side. He comes here on the back of back-to-back wins and, crucially, those recent figures suggest he has finally found his rhythm over fences. An official mark of 110 looks fair rather than punitive for a horse arriving in this sort of nick, and in a race where there are only four runners, reliability counts for plenty. Freddie Keighley takes over and if he can keep this fellow in a smooth jumping groove, there is every chance he will outbattle them late on. At 7/4, he is not exactly hiding from the handicapper or the market, but he still makes most appeal. Bet: WIN
Betting Strategy: Keep it simple in a race this small. Limerick Leader is the win bet, based on the strongest current profile and the least guesswork attached to him. Fairlawn Skipper is the obvious danger after his recent good run, while Moonlightinthepark is the interesting lurker off a low weight if improving again, but there is no each-way angle in a four-runner field.
Live Odds Comparison
| Horse | Bet365 | Betfair | Paddy Power | Sky Bet | William Hill | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockstown Girl | 13/2 | 11/2 | 11/2 | 11/2 | 13/2 | 13/2 (Bet365) |
| Fairlawn Skipper | 7/4 | 11/8 | 11/8 | 11/8 | 8/5 | 7/4 (Bet365) |
| Limerick Leader | 13/8 | 7/4 | 7/4 | 7/4 | 8/5 | 7/4 (Betfair) |
| Moonlightinthepark | 7/2 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 10/3 | 7/2 (Bet365) |
18:25 – In Memory Of Rossie Maitland-Carew Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
Race Details: 2m 1f | Class 3 | Going: GOOD TO FIRM, Good in places (GoingStick 6.7) (Watering) | | jumps
This may only be a three-runner handicap, but it is not lacking in substance. Conquer The Breeze arrives on a sharp upward curve after winning his last two and looks the one with the most momentum, while Duke Of Luckley comes here off a decisive success and has the class to make this a proper scrap despite conceding weight all round. Garde Des Champs is the outsider, though his lower weight and respectable rating mean he is not completely out of it if the other two underperform. In truth, this looks more about tactics than depth: a small-field chase on quick ground where fluent jumping and track position could be everything. It is a tight little race rather than a great betting heat, but the favourite does look solid.
Top Selections
1. Conquer The Breeze – 10/11 with Bet365
Jockey: Ryan Mania | Trainer: Adam Nicol | Form: -11411 | Rating: 130 | Topspeed: 119
Conquer The Breeze is hard to oppose in a race of this shape. He comes here chasing a hat-trick, his form figures suggest a horse thriving, and a mark of 130 does not look beyond him given how efficiently he has been getting the job done. Ryan Mania is a positive booking in a tactical small-field contest, and this seven-year-old has the profile of a progressive sort rather than one clinging on to old form. Duke Of Luckley is a serious rival, but Conquer The Breeze receives 7lb from him despite matching his rating, which could be decisive over this trip on lively ground. At 10/11, he is short enough, but still the percentage call.
Bet: WIN
Betting Strategy
Keep it simple in a three-runner race: Conquer The Breeze is the win bet and the only sensible play. There is no each-way angle with just one place on offer. Duke Of Luckley is the obvious danger on the figures and could make a real race of it if dictating, but the younger, progressive favourite makes more appeal.
Live Odds Comparison
| Horse | Bet365 | Betfair | Paddy Power | Sky Bet | William Hill | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Of Luckley | 15/8 | 7/4 | 7/4 | 7/4 | 15/8 | 15/8 (Bet365) |
| Conquer The Breeze | 10/11 | 5/6 | 5/6 | 5/6 | 10/11 | 10/11 (Bet365) |
| Garde Des Champs | 4/1 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 4/1 (Bet365) |
Tipster Selections
| Tipster | Selection |
|---|---|
| Glendale | Conquer The Breeze |
| Steve Mullington | Duke Of Luckley |
18:55 – Join Racing TV For Free Now Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)
Race Details: 2m | Class 4 | Going: GOOD TO FIRM, Good in places (GoingStick 6.7) (Watering) | | jumps
This looks a fairly informative little bumper rather than a deep one, with the market understandably centring on the pair with established form. Cape Warrior sets the standard on what he’s shown in two runs, while Going On represents a yard that can ready one first time and has the notable booking of Brian Hughes. Micky Hammond also runs Lady Scarphia, so he has a strong hand in a race lacking depth beyond the principals. Arc Kunoichi at least has racecourse experience, but Roohu and the newcomers need to be useful to trouble the front two. In a six-runner field on quick ground, tactical speed and professionalism could count for plenty, so this may be decided by who settles best and finds most off the home bend.
Top Selections
1. Cape Warrior – 6/4 with Bet365
Jockey: Sean Bowen | Trainer: Micky Hammond | Form: 22- | Rating: 104 | Topspeed: 27
Cape Warrior is the one with the most solid claims because he has already shown the right level of ability in this sphere and, just as importantly, he knows his job. Those two runner-up efforts give him the best body of bumper form on offer here, and there’s no shame in a 104 figure in a race of this nature. Sean Bowen is an eye-catching booking and he tends to be very good in these small-field tactical contests, where positioning matters. At 6/4 he is hardly hidden from the market, but this looks a fair price rather than a cramped one given how thin the opposition is behind the obvious pair. Bet: WIN
Bet: WIN
2. Going On – 15/8 with Bet365
Jockey: Brian Hughes | Trainer: Patrick Neville | Form: | Rating: | Topspeed:
Going On is the interesting alternative and very much the unknown with upside. Patrick Neville can get one ready, and when Brian Hughes is booked for a bumper debutant at Kelso you take notice. The market certainly has, and while 15/8 is not a giveaway for a horse with no public form, this is not a race loaded with substance. If Cape Warrior underperforms or gets drawn into a messy tactical affair, Going On could be the one to capitalise with a cleaner change of gear. In a six-runner race with only two places, he makes more appeal as the obvious saver than a wild swing at a bigger price. Bet: EACH-WAY
Bet: EACH-WAY
Betting Strategy
Cape Warrior is the percentage call and makes the most sense as the win bet, given he brings the best proven bumper form to the table. Going On is the danger and the sensible each-way option, especially if the market continues to speak in his favour. Lady Scarphia is the one to keep an eye on among the rest, but the betting should revolve around the front two.
Live Odds Comparison
| Horse | Bet365 | Betfair | Paddy Power | Sky Bet | William Hill | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Going On | 15/8 | 7/4 | 7/4 | 7/4 | 8/5 | 15/8 (Bet365) |
| Cape Warrior | 6/4 | 11/8 | 11/8 | 11/8 | 11/8 | 6/4 (Bet365) |
| Lady Scarphia | 4/1 | 4/1 | 4/1 | 4/1 | 4/1 | 4/1 (Bet365) |
| Arc Kunoichi | 10/1 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 17/2 | 10/1 (Bet365) |
| Roohu | 12/1 | 14/1 | 14/1 | 14/1 | 11/1 | 14/1 (Betfair) |
Tipster Selections
| Tipster | Selection |
|---|---|
| Ian Gaughran | Cape Warrior |
| racing-daily.com | Cape Warrior |
Kelso Course Specialists
Horses To Note
The top course performers among today’s runners:
| Horse | Runs | Wins | Win % | Place % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bold Light | 3 | 2 | 66.67% | 66.67% |
| Limerick Leader | 3 | 1 | 33.33% | 33.33% |
| Heart Above | 12 | 3 | 25% | 83.33% |
| Scots Poet | 5 | 1 | 20% | 40% |
| Starlyte | 17 | 3 | 17.65% | 23.53% |
Jockeys To Note
The pilots with the strongest records at the course:
| Jockey | Rides | Wins | Win % | Place % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Bowen | 63 | 15 | 23.81% | 53.97% |
| Harry Skelton | 48 | 10 | 20.83% | 37.5% |
| Shane Fenelon | 5 | 1 | 20% | 60% |
| Derek Fox | 226 | 42 | 18.58% | 48.67% |
| Joshua Thompson | 30 | 5 | 16.67% | 40% |
Trainers To Note
Yards that have done well at Kelso:
| Trainer | Runners | Wins | Win % | Place % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickey Bowen | 7 | 2 | 28.57% | 71.43% |
| Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero | 33 | 9 | 27.27% | 54.55% |
| Dan Skelton | 70 | 16 | 22.86% | 52.86% |
| Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore | 104 | 17 | 16.35% | 49.04% |
| Adam Nicol | 35 | 5 | 14.29% | 51.43% |
Summary & Best Bets
That wraps up our Kelso racing tips for Wednesday 16th September 2026. We’ve covered all 6 races with our top selections highlighted above. Use the betting strategies as a starting point, always shop around for the best odds, and never bet more than you can afford to lose.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Kelso today?
The first race at Kelso on Wednesday 16th September 2026 goes off at 16:25, with 6 races scheduled in total.
What is the going at Kelso today?
The going at Kelso is reported as GOOD TO FIRM, Good in places (GoingStick 6.7) (Watering).
How many races are at Kelso today?
There are 6 races on the card at Kelso today, running from 16:25 through to 18:55.
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